§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the reply from the Secretary of State for the Environment on 13 February on the review of domestic rates, whether the options include the abolition of the domestic rate in this Parliament; whether officials have been given a deadline for completion of the review; whether any official is working full time on the review; whether it is intended to consult others outside his Department; and whether the findings of the review will be published.
§ Mr. KingThe review is at an early stage and there is no firm deadline for completion: No official is working full-time on this. Other Departments are being consulted as appropriate. We have not yet considered the question of publication. It would be premature at this stage to take a decision on the implementation of the Government's longer term aims as regards domestic rating.