§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the liability of bed-and-breakfast businesses for non-domestic rates; and if he intends to give any guidance to local authorities on the collection of rates on those bed-and-breakfast businesses which have been assessed for non-domestic rates for 1989–90.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 23 April 1990]: We have made clear our intention to clarify in legislation the boundary between domestic and non-domestic in the case of bed-and-breakfast establishments. We have recently consulted interested parties on our proposals in this respect and we are currently considering the responses to that consultation exercise before bringing forward appropriate regulations. These regulations cannot apply retrospectively and any bed-and-breakfast operator faced with an assessment for rates in respect of 1989–90 which he considers not to be justified should appeal through the normal channels. We see no need to provide guidance to local authorities on the collection of rates from bed-and-breakfast businesses.