§ Mr. HindTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the effect his new unified business rate will have on rate levels for business in inner cities.
§ Mr. HowardIf the uniform rate poundage had been introduced in 1987–88, non-domestic rates in urban progamme authority areas would have fallen by around £380 million or 14 per cent. The uniform business rate will be a major stimulus to economic development in the inner cities.
§ Mr. EvennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from businesses in (i) the London borough of Bexley and (ii) Greater London concerning the proposed national non-domestic rate.
§ Mr. HowardI have received more than 3,500 letters about our proposal since June. They are not, however, categorised by subject or their place of origin. I am aware of concern from some businesses in both Greater London and the London borough of Bexley about the implications of a national non-domestic rate, but I believe that the advantages of the statutory guarantee that the business rate will not increase by more than the rate of inflation are increasingly recognised.