§ 41. Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the current compilation and sending out of domestic rate demands; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has assessed the impact of the National and Local Government Officers Association's decision to cease all work relating to the issuing of rate demands by the local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KingI understand that individual local authorities and the local authority associations are considering the implications of the industrial action currently affecting the preparation of rate demand notes. It is primarily for the authorities themselves to consider these matters, and it would be premature for me to comment at the present time.
§ 42. Mr. Wallerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the level of rate increases reported for 1980–81.
§ Mr. KingNo. Some authorities have clearly made no serious attempt to reduce their expenditure levels and this is reflected in their rates.
§ 46. Mr. John Huntasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will 586W list the rate increases proposed for 1980–81 for each of the Greater London boroughs in both poundage and percentage terms.
§ Mr. KingThe figures for those London boroughs from which information has been received are:
Increase in general rate Poundage p Percentage City of London 17.30 22.24 Camden 26.77 25.25 Greenwich 16.70 19.55 Islington 34.00 33.27 Lambeth 41.50 40.53 Lewisham 34.00 38.20 Southwark 34.02 34.36 Tower Hamlets 28.00 29.17 Wandsworth 11.90 14.02 Barking 22.00 22.92 Barnet 15.00 18.18 Brent 30.50 31.28 Bromley 11.50 13.94 Croydon 6.00 8.11 Ealing 23.00 25.70 Enfield 20.00 22.99 Haringey 35.00 30.43 Hillingdon 11.10 11.37 Harrow 22.00 22.45 Havering 22.00 23.78 Hounslow 29.15 32.75 Kingston 14.00 16.09 Merton 16.00 18.60 Richmond 14.00 15.73 Sutton 15.00 18.40 Waltham Forest 36.00 34.95
§ 50. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities in England and Wales have announced a rate of less than £1.19 for 1980–81.
§ Mr. KingRate details have been received for 324 of the 402 rating authorities in England and Wales. Of these 207 are levying a rate of less than £1.19 for 1980–81.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average rate bill demanded from ratepayers in the London area for the year 1979–80; and how this compares with a similar ratepayer in the Isle of Wight.
§ Mr. KingThe estimated average domestic rate payment in 1979–80 is £200 in London compared with £156 in the Isle of Wight.