§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against the 1973 rating revaluation are still outstanding in Greater London in respect of: (a) domestic and (b) non-domestic properties.
§ Mr. John Silkin80,804 rating appeals were outstanding in Greater London at 30th June 1976. I regret that the figures available are not broken down into the different classes of property involved.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the accumulated totals of rates outstanding to: (a) the Greater London Council, (b) the London boroughs and (c) the Metropolitan Police as a direct result of ratepayers exercising their right to withhold part of their rate payments under Section 8 of the General Rate Act 1967, following an appeal against rate assessment.
§ Mr. John SilkinThis information is not available centrally, but the authorities concerned may be able to supply figures or estimates of the amounts involved.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now seek to amend Section 8 of the General Rate Act 1967 so as to restrict to domestic ratepayers the right to withhold part of their rate payments, following an appeal against rating assessment, or to enable local authorities to charge interest on sums withheld by non-domestic ratepayers.
56W
§ Mr. John SilkinThis matter will be considered in the light of the recommendations made by the Layfield Committee of Inquiry into Local Government Finance.