HC Deb 07 December 1982 vol 33 c451W
Mr. Shersby

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make an estimate of the average reduction in the commercial and industrial rate in Greater London in 1980–81 and 1981–82 if the amount of rate support grant withheld by the operation of penalties on overspending authorities were applied in providing rate relief for such ratepayers.

Mr. Heseltine

If the amount of grant held back from overspending authorities in London under the Rate Support Grant (Principles for Multipliers) Order 1980 were distributed to non-domestic ratepayers in London it would provide rate relief of about a 1p rate in the pound for such ratepayers. If the amount of grant which it is proposed to hold back from London authorities under the Rate Support Grant Supplementary Report (England) (No. 2) 1982 were similarly distributed it would provide a rate relief of about 3–4p for such ratepayers.