§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will allow new businesses to pay 25 per cent. of the unified business rates in their first years, 50 per cent. in the second and 75 per cent. in the third year; [39033]
(2) if he will reduce the unified business rate where the owner or proprietor lives on the premises in lieu of council tax. [39031]
§ Mr. RaynsfordOn 30 March we published our consultation paper "Modernising local government: Business Rates", setting out our proposals on the future of non-domestic rates. We indicated there our willingness to consider reducing the rate bills of small businesses, and invited views by 1 June on the approach to be adopted.