§ Mr. Emeryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the fact that continuing rises in the level of rates and water rates are taking a higher proportion of the individual's income, he will, pending his major review of all the main alternatives to domestic rates, introduce interim legislation to enable authorities to change the basis of such rates so as to reflect the numbers of persons living in each hereditament and using local services.
§ Mr. KingSuch a change, by its nature, would redistribute the rate burden between groups in the population and would require new mechanisms of collection and enforcement. It is not, therefore, something to be contemplated as an interim measure, but we shall take account of the suggestion in our major review.