HC Deb 18 November 1969 vol 791 cc252-4W
Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list those local authorities which have used their power to levy half rates on empty properties, and the rate revenue thus raised; and if he will now introduce legislation requiring local authorities to levy full rates on all empty properties, or to acquire such houses compulsorily.

Mr. Denis Howell

Following is a list of 101 local authorities which have exercised the power in the General Rate Act 1967 to levy half rates on empty properties. No information about the extra rates collected or the extra costs of collection has been sought from local authorities because the power was introduced to discourage owners from leaving property empty, not to increase revenue; and the more successful it is in that purpose the less revenue there will be from empty property and the more from occupied property. The suggestions for legislation mentioned by my hon. Friend will be considered.

Following is the list:

The county borough councils of
Bournemouth. Exeter.
Coventry. Southport.
Eastbourne. West Bromwich.
The London borough councils of
Barking. Hounslow.
Barnet. Islington.
Bexley. Kensington and
Brent. Chelsea.
Camden. Lambeth.
Croydon. Newham.
Ealing. Redbridge.
Greenwich. Southwark.
Hackney. Tower Hamlets.
Hammersmith. Waltham Forest.
Haringey. Wandsworth.
Havering. Westminster.
Hillingdon.
The non-county borough and urban district councils of
Alsager. Maesteg.
Ashby de la Zouch. Maidstone.
Barry* Mansfield.
Beaumaris. Melksham.
Bishop's Stortford. Melton Mowbray.
Cannock. Neath.
Carmarthen. Newbiggin-by-the
Chepstow. Sea.
Clay Cross. Newbury.
Hereford. Newcastle-under-
Hitchin. Lyme.
Hornsea. New Sarum.
Coalville. Petersfield.
Crawley. Portland.
Eccles. Potters Bar.
Gelligaer. Ramsgate.
Hadleigh*. Royston (Herts).
Halesworth*. St. Albans.
Halstead. Shoreham-by-Sea.
Heanor. Skelton and
Tamworth. Brotton.
Taunton. Stevenage.
Todmorden. Tonbridge.
Horsham. Tring.
Keighley*. Tunbridge Wells.
Leamington Spa. Watford.
Letchworth. Wellington (Somer-
Llandovery. set).
Llanidloes. Wimborne Minster.
Loughborough. Wisbech.
*These authorities have now ceased to rate empty property.
The rural district councils of
Ashby de la Zouch. Wantage.
Cannock. Warminster and
Cheadle. Westbury.
Long Ashton. Warmley.
Sedgefield. Watford.
South Cambridge- West Dean.
shire. Wycombe.
South Kesteven. Isles of Scilly.
Vaynor and
Penderyn.