§ 44. Mr. Amessasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he now expects to be the average rise in rates in April 1984.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMany councils have still to make final decisions on their rates for 1984–85. But the information so far available suggests that the average rate increase will be of similar order to last year, when general rate poundages increased on average by 6.5 per cent. Information on precepting authorities shows that non-metropolitan counties are, on average, planning to increase their precepts by 6 per cent.; metropolitan counties, on average, by 5 per cent.; ILEA by 4 per cent.; and GLC has announced a 7.5 reduction.
§ 71. Mr. Robert B. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has carried out any research into rate levels and their effect on employment.
§ Mr. WaldegraveA study commissioned by my Department is now in progress at the University of Cambridge into the effect of rate levels on the location of firms, and therefore of employment. There are, of course, other effects of high rates in inhibiting the growth of firms, apart from those directly affecting choice of location.