§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail for the last 10 years the number of councillors and the authorities which they represent who have asked for dispensation in order to vote against proposals to rate empty property.
§ Mr. WaldegraveSince February 1978, 34 applications for dispensation under section 97 of the Local Government Act 1972 on proposals to rate empty property have been received from members of Babergh, Rochester-upon-Medway, and Wirral district councils. Dispensations were granted in each case. Information on voting intentions on specific proposals is not sought by the Secretary of State in considering such applications.
Details of applications received before February 1978 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.