§ Mr. Riddickasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will calculate the financial effects on commercial and industrial concerns in (a) the Colne Valley constituency, (b) the Kirklees metropolitan district council and (c) the Yorkshire and Humberside region resulting from the introduction of the unified business rate; and what is his estimate of the likely effect in employment in these areas resulting from the introduction of the unified business rate.
§ Mr. HowardOn the basis of 1987–88 rate levels, introduction of the national non-domestic rate poundage would have reduced the excessive non-domestic rate bills by £10 million (22 per cent.) in Kirklees, and by £130 million (18 per cent.) in Yorkshire and Humberside as a whole; information by constituency is not available. These reductions are bound to improve employment prospects substantially in both the short and long term.
910WManufacturers in the region can expect additional benefits from revaluation in 1990.