§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in theOfficial Report to show (a) the total amount to be rebated to ratepayers in Northern Ireland as a consequence of the announcement by his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding reduced local government taxation, 19 March, Official Report, column 180, (b) the average sum for each domestic property in Northern Ireland, (c) the sum for each elector in Northern Ireland and (d) what sum £140 per elector in Northern Ireland represents.
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§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 26 March 1991]: The information is as follows:
- (a) The total reduction in domestic rates in Northern Ireland is £73.23 million.
- (b) This represents an average reduction per ratepayer of approximately £127.
- (c) The sum per elector in Northern Ireland is approximately £65
- (d) The sum of £140 per elector in Northern Ireland would amount to £159 million approximately.
With regard to (c) and (d) it should be noted that there is no precise analogy between the adjustments in Great Britain and Northern Ireland because of the different financing regimes and the markedly different degree of existing central Government support. In neither case is the reduction in the burden of local finance related directly to the number of electors and the above figures are no basis for comparisons.