§ 9. Mr. Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a figure for the shift in the burden of rates in Scotland to small shopkeepers.
§ Mr. AncramSmall shops cannot be distinguished as a separate category of rateable premises in the information available to me, but the burden of rates on small shopkeepers and others whose valuations have been very steeply increased this year will be lessened by the measures my right hon. Friend will put before the House in accordance with the statement he made yesterday.
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§ 18. Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland which authorities he intends to take selective action against in Scotland, with a view to reducing rate levels.
§ Mr. AncramMy right hon. Friend hopes to announce his decision shortly.
§ 24. Mr. O'Neillasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities regarding the replacement of domestic rates with a poll tax.
§ Mr. AncramI have had no views from the convention on this matter since it commented, in response to the 1981 Green Paper, that poll tax as an addition to rates merited further examination.
§ 29. Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further steps he intends to take to relieve domestic and commercial ratepayers from the current year's rate demands.
§ Mr. AncramI refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend made yesterday at columns 175–86.
§ 30. Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for domestic rating relief after 1985–86.
§ Mr. AncramDecisions on domestic rate relief, together with all other aspects of rate support grant, are taken each year following consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. I will be reaching decisions on domestic rate relief in 1986–87 and following years in the usual way.
§ 31. Mr. McTaggartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about alternatives to the present rating system.
§ 35. Mr. Hugh Brownasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received concerning proposals to reform the rating system; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramI refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the right hon. Member for Rutherglen (Mr. MacKenzie).
§ 36. Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on options currently being considered for resolving the problem of the rating system.
§ Mr. AncramNot yet.
§ 37. Dame Judith Hartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from small businesses in the constituency of Clydesdale about the rises of up to 400 per cent. in rateable values following revaluation.
§ Mr. YoungerI have received a number of representations on this subject but cannot identify any particular ones from Clydesdale. I announced on 14 May the Government's proposals to protect Scottish ratepayers from the effects of very large rises in rateable value in 1985–86.