§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for a partial rating revaluation of business properties only; and whether he can give assurances that in such an event the balance of rate burden between domestic and non-domestic ratepayers will remain unchanged.
§ Mr. KingThe Government have no immediate plans for such a revaluation, but clause 23 of the Local Government, 335W Planning and Land (No. 2) Bill provides an enabling power. I can assure my hon. Friend that it is the Government's firm intention that in any revaluation of non-domestic properties only, the balance of the rate burden as between domestic and non-domestic ratepayers should remain broadly unchanged. I am moving an amendment in Committee today to clause 23 to ensure that arithmetical adjustments made to the new list would achieve this result.