§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a table indicating the rate in pounds sterling of the uniform business rate in(a) Wales and (b) England in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThe uniform rate was not in operation before 1 April 1990. The information for the last three years is given in the folowing table.
Year Wales England 1990–91 0.368 0.348 1991–92 0.408 0.386 1992–93 0.425 0.402 The poundage for Wales and England were set in 1990 at a level which ensured that the overall yield from ratepayers remained at the 1989–90 level in real terms. Since 1990 poundages have been uprated in line with the annual increase in the retail prices index as at September in the preceding year.