§ Mr. PriskTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in stamp duty land tax on economic regeneration policies in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [135611]
§ Ruth KellyI have been asked to reply.
The Government has introduced disadvantaged areas relief which provides an exemption from stamp duty land tax for transactions in non-residential land in Enterprise Areas. There are 237 wards in Northern Ireland which qualify for this relief, representing the bottom 42 per cent. of areas in the national index of deprivation. The measure provides a major boost to businesses investing in commercial premises in Northern Ireland.