HC Deb 09 December 1987 vol 124 c175W
Mr. Hannam

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether self-employed persons living on their own business premises will be liable for(a) community charge and (b) the unified business rate.

Mr. Howard

Self-employed people will be liable to the community charge in the normal way. Rates will be charged only on buildings and parts of buildings in non-domestic use. Thus, for example, a shopkeeper who lives over his shop will be liable for rates only on the shop, not on both parts as at present.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, using the latest statistical information available, he will publish in theOfficial Report the constituencies of England and Wales ranked accordingly to the percentage of (a) losers and (b) gainers under the community charge proposals showing these percentages alongside that ranking.

Mr. Howard

As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 26 October at column 38, it is not possible to produce estimates of gainers and losers by parliamentary constituency.