§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the number of office blocks vacant in London and elsewhere, he will introduce legislation to make rates payable in full on empty office and other buildings.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonMy right hon. Friend has at present no proposals for amending the existing legislation under which
1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 £ £ £ £ £ £ Rate support Grants Resources element … — — — — — 959,841 Domestic element … — — — — — 18,745 Total … 978,586 Rate-deficiency grant … 559,659 630,709 685,309 766,726 831,234 — Rating (Interim Relief) Act, Sections 1 and 5 … — — 10,035 11,485 12,790 — Rate rebates … — — — — 15,169 15,714 Specific Revenue Grants Improvement Grants … 26,336 32,094 37,955 44,279 50,950 56,752 Highways … 795 1,149 9,428 1,260 1,530 9,962 Miscellaneous … — 8 — 872 913 16 Housing Subsidies etc … 51,487 54,953 69,298 72,324 79,765 84,214 Capital Grants Town and Country Planning … — — — — — 63,750 Miscellaneous … 1,442 114 4,489 — — 70,500 Totals … 639,719 719,027 816,514 896,946 992,351 1,279,494 Source: Epitomes of Accounts and Departmental Records.