HC Deb 21 October 1981 vol 10 cc148-9W

Mr. Thornton asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion, for each of the last 10 years, payment of rates has represented of the costs of (a) all industry and commerce, (b) manufacturing industry and (c) commerce, or the nearest available figures.

Mr. King: The available information for manufacturing industry is as follows:

per cent. 1973 0.55 1974 0.58 1975 0.67 1976 0.62 1977 0.58 1978 0.58

This information is not available for commerce.

Mr. Thornton asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the proportion which rates in England and Wales have represented in each of the last 10 years of (a) total direct taxation and (b) total indirect taxation.

Mr. King: Figures for direct and indirect taxes are not available for England and Wales. A comparison of rates in England and Wales with direct and indirect central Government taxation for the United Kingdom is as follows:

Rates England

and Wales Income tax & surtax (United Kingdom) Other central government taxes (United Kingdom) £m £m £m 1971–72 1,924 6,780 7,045 1972–73 2,180 6,818 8,177 1973–74 2,198 7,444 9,438 1974–75 2,941 10,457 11,205 1975–76 3,784 15,150 12,245 1976–77 4,126 17,076 14,521 1977–78 4,721 17,450 16,751 1978–79 5,182 18,763 19,072 1979–80 6,086 20,613 25,842 1980–81∗ 7,700 24,709 30,826

∗ provisional

Mr. Thornton asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total amount raised in (a) domestic and (b) non-domestic rates in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Mr. King: The information is as follows:

1971–72 858 1,066 1972–73 976 1,204 1973–74 964 1,234 1974–75 1,171 1,770 1975–76 1,462 2,322 1976–77 1,627 2,499 1977–78 1,918 2,803 1978–79 2,151 3,031 1979–80 2,590 3,496 1980–81∗ 3,346 4,354

∗ provisional

Mr. Thornton asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the proportion of rates raised in each of the past 10 years divided between domestic rates and non-domestic rates in England and Wales.

Mr. King: The information is as follows:

1971–72 44.6% 55.4% 1972–73 44.8% 55.2% 1973–74 43.9% 56.1% 1974–75 39.8% 60.2% 1975–76 38.6% 61.4% 1976–77 39.4% 60.6% 1977–78 40.6% 59.4% 1978–79 41.5% 58.5% 1979–80 42.6% 57.4% 1980–81∗ 43.5% 56.5%

∗ provisional

Mr. Ronald W. Brown asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the average rates paid in cash terms, of a two-bedroom flat in the London borough of Hackney when the ceiling on rate rebate entitlement was set at £6.75; what is the average rate paid in cash terms currently for the same property; what is the ceiling in rate rebate entitlement; and if he is satisfied that the ceiling level has kept in step with the increase in rate levels.

Mr. King: The average rate bill for a typical (purpose built) two-bedroom flat in the London borough of Hackney was estimated to be about £6.00 per week in 1980–81 and about £9-00 per week in 1981–82. (The average rate bill in 1981–82 for all types of domestic property in Hackney is estimated to be about –7.70 per week). As from 23 November 1981, the rate rebate maximum in London will be increased to –9.00 per week. The average domestic rate bill for London as a whole is currently about –6.80 per week. I am satisfied, therefore, that the increased level for rate rebate entitlement will remain in step with average rate levels in London.