HL Deb 25 June 1981 vol 421 cc1234-5WA
Lord Boyd-Carpenter

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish in the Official Report a list of those local authorities whose rate demands for 1981–82 represent an increase in rate poundage of over 50 per cent.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Bellwin)

In no area in England or Wales has the general non-domestic rate poundage shown on rate demand notes risen in 1981–82 by more than 50 per cent. compared with 1980–81. The domestic rate poundage has risen by 50 per cent. only in the London boroughs of Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Newham. Figures for the rates or precepts levied in respect of the expenditure of individual authorities belonging to different tiers could be provided only at disproportionate cost, and in some cases would not be meaningful because of the introduction of the new block grant system.

In Scotland, no regional council or islands council has determined a rate poundage for 1981–82 more than 50 per cent. above that for 1980–81. The rate poundage determined by each of the following district councils for 1981–82 is more than 50 per cent. above that for 1890–81: Dundee, Stirling, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Kyle and Carrick, Renfrew, Hamilton and Kirkcaldy.