Rates (Hansard, 18 May 1979)

§ Mr. Richard Shepherd
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average payment made by householders in rates in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable totals in each of the previous 10 years.

§ Mr. King
The average annual payment per domestic hereditament (net of rate rebates) in England and Wales in 1979–80 and earlier years is estimated to be:

£

1979–80 142.2(a)

1978–79 119.1

1977–78 107.9

1976–77 92.8

1975–76 84.9

1974–75 62.7(b)

1973–74 63.8(c)

1972–73 58.6

1971–72 52.2

1970–71 45.3

1969–70 43.1

(a) Provisional estimate.
(b) Allowing for the effect of special domestic relief made available in July 1974.
(c) At local government reorganisation in April 1974, certain services (water, sewerage and local health) ceased to be local authority responsibilities. If, for comparison with 1974–75 and later years, the cost of these services is excluded from the 1973–74 figure, the average payment would have been about £56.

§ Mr. Richard Shepherd
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the percentage of local government expenditure covered by rate support and other grants from central Government in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable percentages in each of the previous 10 years.

§ Mr. King
The percentage of relevant expenditure to be met by Government grants (a) in the rate support grant settle 12W ments for 1979–80 and earlier years has been:

Per cent.

1979–80 61

1978–79 61

1977–78 61

1976–77 65½

1975–76 66½

1974–75 60½

(b)

1973–74 60

1972–73 58

1971–72 57½

1970–71 57

1969–70 56

(a) Specific, supplementary and rate support grants. Excluding grants towards rate rebates.
(b) Before allowing for special domestic relief grant made available in July 1974 which increased the effective grant percentage to just over 65 per cent.

§ Mr. Richard Shepherd
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the cost incurred by local authorities in assessing and collecting local rates.

§ Mr. King
The estimated cost of rate collection in 1979–80 based on returns made by local authorities is £99.5 million.

	£
1979–80	142.2(a)
1978–79	119.1
1977–78	107.9
1976–77	92.8
1975–76	84.9
1974–75	62.7(b)
1973–74	63.8(c)
1972–73	58.6
1971–72	52.2
1970–71	45.3
1969–70	43.1

	Per cent.
1979–80	61
1978–79	61
1977–78	61
1976–77	65½
1975–76	66½
1974–75	60½
	(b)
1973–74	60
1972–73	58
1971–72	57½
1970–71	57
1969–70	56