§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional increase in the rates he estimates will be payable by the people of Weymouth, consequent upon his recent decision to reduce rate relief to rural areas in order to help the cities.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the effect of the introduction of the proposed standard 13p domestic rate relief grant on ratepayers within the new Calderdale Council, and the administrative difficulties and extra cost caused by the short notice of the change, if he will offer authorities additional assistance to overcome consequential expenditure and special assistance to authorities, whose domestic subsidy is being reduced under this proposal, which are anxious to extend industrial development within their area.
§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the differing additional burdens in similar areas imposed by his rate support proposals, he will alter the incidence of domestic rate relief to help young house purchasers, such as those in the metropolitan districts of Leeds and Bradford.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will modify his proposals for rate relief so that urban areas receive as much benefit under the new proposals as they did under the previous ones.
§ Mr. OakesThe majority of urban areas will receive more under the new 195W proposals than they would have done under the previous ones.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will receive a delegation without delay from Stoke-on-Trent to discuss the consequences of the new proposals for rate relief.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many district councils with populations greater than 200,000 will have their rate relief reduced by the introduction of the 13p flat rate compared with the previous proposals.
§ Mr. Oakes26 in England and Wales. However, 20 district councils, and 18 London borough councils, with populations over 200,000, will have their domestic rate relief increased.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take any necessary steps to ensure that domestic ratepayers in Stoke-on-Trent receive the same benefits as those in most other urban areas.