§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will introduce legislation to implement the Government's proposal that dwellings should in future be assessed for rates by reference to their capital values.
§ Mr. ShoreConsultations following the publication of the Green Paper on Local Government Finance are still in progress. We will not be in a position to say when legislation will be introduced until these consultations are further advanced.
§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make provision in the rating assessment of ports to eliminate the element of double counting, in that some rents from separately rated premises are included in the relevant receipts of a port undertaking on which the rate charge is based.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettNo. Rents from separately rated premises are already completely excluded in the great majority of ports; to cater equitably for all ports would involve changing the present basis in a way which would produce an unacceptable amount of valuation work and thus nullify much of the advantage of simplicity offered by the formula.