HC Deb 23 November 1987 vol 123 c53W
Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of those who are eligible to vote in local government elections are(a) domestic ratepayers, (b) spouses of domestic ratepayers and (c) people who receive any relief from domestic rates because of special needs.

Mr. Howard

The available information for England in 1987–88 is as follows:

  1. (a) 52 per cent, of the local council electorate is liable to pay rates.
  2. (b) Precise information on the number of spouses of domestic ratepayers is not available. However, I estimate from data contained in the Family Expenditure Survey that there are about 9.5 million households with two adults where rates are presently paid in whole or in part—about 26 per cent, of those eligible to vote.
  3. (c) 16 per cent, of the local council electorate receive partial or total rate rebates.