§ Baroness Whartonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it remains their policy to bring forward a response to recent representations about the taxation of show houses "coterminous" with the proceedings on the Local Government and Rating Bill.
Earl FerrersWe have received representations from the House Builders Federation and the Manufacturing and Construction Alliance to the effect that show houses should be subject to the council tax rather than to non-domestic rates. We have since met both organisations to discuss this matter. If we decide that show houses should be treated as domestic, we could effect this change through secondary legislation.