§ Mr. PriskTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in stamp duty land tax on his policy for urban and high street regeneration; and if he will make a statement. [135614]
§ Ruth KellyI have been asked to reply.
The Government have introduced disadvantaged areas relief which provides an exemption from stamp duty land tax for transactions in non-residential land in Enterprise Areas. There are 1,262 wards in England which qualify for this relief, representing the bottom 15 per cent. of the national index of deprivation. The measure provides a major boost to businesses investing in commercial premises in England.