§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the likely cost that would arise under the Rating (Revaluation Rebates) (Scotland) Bill if the level at which relief was given is 2.5 times or 2.75 times the previous rating valuations.
§ Mr. YoungerI do not have the information on which to base a reliable estimate, and to ask the rating authorities to do the calculations specially does not seem to me a worthwhile use of resources. It is clear, however, since the average revaluation multiplier for all domestic property in Scotland is 2.7, that if the threshold for revaluation rate rebates were reduced to the levels suggested, there would be a very large increase in the numbers qualifying, and a substantial increase in the rebate costs, and in the administrative costs.
§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the percentage increases in total valuation for domestic and commercial subjects, respectively, arising from the recent revaluation for each rating authority in Scotland and for Scotland as a whole.
§ Mr. YoungerThe percentage increases in total rateable values between 1 April 1984 and 1 April 1985 are given in the table.
Domestic Commercial Borders 180 170 Central 160 130 Dumfries & Galloway 170 190 Fife 150 140 Grampian 180 180 Highland 160 160 Lothian 170 110 Strathclyde 170 110 Tayside 170 130 Orkney 160 70 Shetland 170 50 Western Isles 150 190 Scotland 170 130 These figures include the effect of adding new subjects to and deleting old subjects from the valuation rolls, and of changes to the classification of subjects, as well as the revaluation.
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§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of domestic and commercial ratepayers, respectively, for each rating authority in Scotland and for Scotland as a whole and his estimate of the number and percentage in each category in each authority and for Scotland as a whole who are likely to benefit from the provisions in the Rating (Revaluation Rebates) (Scotland) Bill.
§ Mr. YoungerComplete information in the detail requested is not yet available. An estimate of the number of properties which might qualify and of the cost of rebates in Scotland as a whole is contained in the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Bill.
§ Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage reduction in the total rates burden for domestic and commercial ratepayers, respectively, in each rating authority and for Scotland as a whole he estimates will result from the relief provided for in the Rating (Revaluation Rebates) (Scotland) Bill.
§ Mr. YoungerThis information is not available.