Rates (Hansard, 20 May 1985)

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) domestic ratepayers and (b) commercial ratepayers would be in a position to benefit from the scheme announced on Tuesday 14 May; and if he will publish a table giving figures for each category, region-by-region and district-by-district.

§ Mr. Ancram
I refer my hon. Friend to the figures my right hon. Friend gave the House at column 219 following the statement on 14 May. These are very approximate estimates which I would hope to revise when information is available from assessors as to the number of rateable subjects with valuation multipliers greater than 3. I can make no estimate by region or district.

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if Edinburgh district council will receive further funds from Her Majesty's Government if they bring their rate fund contribution down to the Secretary of State's limit.

§ Mr. Ancram
If Edinburgh district council revises its budget such as to bring its estimated rate fund contribution for 1985–86 down to the figure in the Housing Revenue Account Rate Fund Contribution Limits (Scotland) Order 1985, the council's gross HRA capital allocation for 1985–86 will be increased from £12.362 million to £18 million.

§ Mr. Craigen
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OfficialReport the amount of rates collected in Scotland in each year from 1981–82; and if he will express the costs of both (a) lands valuation and (b) collection of rates as a percentage of the total.

§ Mr. Ancram
[pursuant to his reply, 16 May 1985, c. 229]: The information is given in the table.
292W

Cash amount of rates collected in Scotland after rebates and reliefs Cost of (a) lands valuation and (b) collection of rates as a percentage of rates collected

£ million (a) per cent. (b) per cent.

1981–82 1,205 0.7 1.0

1982–83 1,373 0.6 1.0

1983–84 1,308 0.7 0.9

1984–85 ^*1,445 0.7 1.0

1985–86 ^*1,611 0.6 1.0

^* Estimate.

The percentages are based on the figures used in the answer to the hon. Member's question on 26 April 1985 at column 219.

	Cash amount of rates collected in Scotland after rebates and reliefs	Cost of (a) lands valuation and (b) collection of rates as a percentage of rates collected
	£ million	(a) per cent.	(b) per cent.
1981–82	1,205	0.7	1.0
1982–83	1,373	0.6	1.0
1983–84	1,308	0.7	0.9
1984–85	^*1,445	0.7	1.0
1985–86	^*1,611	0.6	1.0
^* Estimate.