§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the reply he gave on 19 March to the hon. Members for Basildon (Mr. Amess) and for Glasgow, Rutherglen (Mr. McAvoy),Official Report, column 483–84, if he has made a further assessment of the effect of the new business rate upon sports facilities now that the rating lists have come into force.
§ Mr. ChopeThe 25,591 sports grounds, sports stadia, playing fields and clubhouses in the rating lists for England which came into force on 1 April have average rate bills under the new system, excluding the effect of the transitional arrangements, 3.05 per cent. higher than in 1989–90. This represents a fall of about 4.5 per cent. in real terms. Average rate bills for the 3,300 golf courses, swimming pools and tennis courts in the new lists have risen by 20.6 per cent. and those for leisure and sports centres, of which there are 2,105 in the lists, by 30.3 per cent, again without transition.
These figures take no account of rate relief: local authorities have discretion to grant up to 100 per cent. rate relief on property occupied by non-profit making bodies.