§ 50. Mr. John Leeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities in England and Wales are now imposing rating in respect of unoccupied premises; what is the total value to date of the rating of such property; and if he will make a statement.
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Rent Assessment Panel Area Rent Officers' rent compared with Rent Assessment Committees' rent Total number of determinations by RAC's Reduced Unchanged Increased Northern … … … 4 11 13 28 Manchester … … … 4 20 7 31 Yorkshire … … … 101 143 99 343 Liverpool … … … 5 8 3 16 W. Midland … … … 15 14 4 33 F. Midland … … … — 37 22 59 Bristol … … … 3 6 4 13 Thames Valley … … … 2 3 5 10 Luton … … … 10 2 4 16 Eastern … … … 4 7 8 19 Devon and Cornwall … … … 2 8 4 14 Southern … … … 2 — 8 10 Surrey and Sussex … … … 2 9 8 19 Kent … … … — 2 5 7 London … … … 115 216 314 645 Total … … … 269 486 508 1,263
§ Mr. SkeffingtonNinety-seven rating authorities in England and Wales are now rating empty property. No information about the extra rates collected or the extra costs of collection has been sought from local authorities because the main purpose of this provision is to discourage owners from leaving property empty rather than to increase revenue.