HC Deb 17 March 1986 vol 94 cc71-2W
Dr. Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the total paid in domestic rates (a) gross and (b) net of rebates in each year from 1979–80 to 1985–86.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

Estimates of domestic rates income in England are as follows:

£'000 million
Domestic Rate Income (gross of rebates) Domestic Rate Income (Net of rebates)
1979–80 2.6 2.5
1980–81 3.4 3.2
1981–82 4.2 3.9
1982–83 4.9 4.4
1983–84 5.3 4.2
1984–85 5.6 4.4
1985–86 6.1 4.8

Notes: The figures are net of domestic rate relief grant. The estimates are derived from total rate income allocated to the domestic sector on the basis of its rateable value share.

The rate rebate figures netted off include those paid in respect of supplementary benefit recipients under the housing benefit scheme, which was partially introduced in November 1982 and fully in April 1983. Equivalent sums paid to supplementary benefit recipients under previous arrangements are given in earlier years.

Dr. Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the total paid in non-domestic rates to local authorities in England in each year from 1979–80 to 1985–86.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

Estimates of non-domestic rate income in England are as follows:

£'000 million
Non-domestic rate income
1979–80 3.4
1980–81 4.2
1981–82 5.1
1982–83 5.9
1983–84 6.3
1984–85 6.6
1985–86 7.2

Note: The estimates are derived from total rate income allocated to the non-domestic sector on the basis of its rateable value share.

Mr. Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of domestic rates relief in (a) England and (b) Wales in each of the past 10 years.

Mrs. Rumbold

Domestic rate relief in England has been 18.5p in the pound since 1975–76, except for four London boroughs (City of London, Camden, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster) where it has varied. Domestic rate relief in Wales was 36p in the pound between 1975–76 and 1982–83 (inclusive), and 18.5p in the pound since 1983–84.

Mr. Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average unrebated domestic rates bill in (a) England and (b) Wales in the year 1984–85, and in each of the previous 12 years.

Mrs. Rumbold

The figures for 1973–74 onwards are as follows. Figures for earlier years are not available on a comparable basis:

Average unrebated domestic rate bills (per hereditament) (£)
England Wales
1973–74 60 43
1974–75 77 34
1975–76 94 51
1976–77 103 59
1977–78 119 68
1978–79 131 77
1979–80 155 97
1980–81 199 127
1981–82 245 154
1982–83 282 183
1983–84 303 185
1984–85 323 202