§ 49. Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if a proposal to zero rate manufacturing industrial premises would infringe EC rules; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawWhether or not any proposal to zero rate manufacturing industrial premises would infringe EC rules would depend on the details of the measure. However, the Government are of the view that if such a measure were uniform in its application EC rules would not be infringed.
We have received representations from industrial ratepayers in the context of our review of the domestic rating system with various specific suggestions for changes to the system as it applies to the non-domestic sector. We are considering all these points as we develop our policies for the future.