§ Mr. MacGregorasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local rating authorities are now permitting small businesses to pay their rates by instalments in accordance with Circular 73/74 issued by the Department of the Environment on 29th April 1974.
§ Mr. Oakes:The Department is aware that a number of rating authorities consider sympathetically requests from small businesses to pay rates by instalments, but I regret that comprehensive information is not available.