HC Deb 22 February 1979 vol 963 cc311-2W
Mr. Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the date of the chairman's covering letter forwarding to Mr. Bell, of the Department of the Environment, the report of the working party on the regional rate.

Mr. Pendry

18 August 1978.

Mr. Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent, if any, the report of the working party on the regional rate was taken into account in SRNI 1979/26.

Mr. Pendry

In 1978–79 the regional rate was struck so as to produce a total—regional and district—domestic rate increase in line with the average level of estimated rate increases in England and Wales. The same formula was followed for 1979–80 in SRNI 1979/26. This method is the one preferred by the report of the working party on the regional rate but before any final decision on the future method is taken the views of elected representatives and others will be taken into account.