§ Mr. Tom Kingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the cost of limiting rate charges to previous year's rates (a) plus 20 per cent. and (b) plus 30 per cent.
§ Mr. OakesThe Department has so far received details of rates from only about 65 per cent. of local authorities, and is therefore unable to make accurate estimates of the costs of limiting rate increases to particular levels. However, calculations based on the information available suggest that the cost of limiting increases in domestic rate poundages, including charges for water and sewerage, to (a) 20 per cent. and (b) 30 per cent. over 1973–74 would be of the order of £200 million and £120 million respectively. The costs of similar limitations on non-domestic rates would be considerably greater.