§ 62. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the existing arrangements relating to the rating of empty industrial and warehouse premises.
§ Mr. KingThe Government are aware of the problems for businesses arising from the fixed costs of maintaining 557W non-productive premises. That is why, following the 1980 Local Government, Planning and Land Act, we introduced a ceiling of 50 per cent. on the level of rates which may be levied on empty non-domestic property. All local authorities have discretion to levy a rate lower than this maximum, and many levy no rate at all on empty industrial premises. However, the powers taken in the 1980 Act allow me further to vary the ceiling on empty property rates for a specified class or classes, and I am keeping this area of rating law under close review.