HC Deb 01 December 1988 vol 142 cc363-4W
Mr. Butterfill

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government have now decided on the boundary for rating purposes between domestic and non-domestic property.

Mr. Gummer

My Department and the Welsh Office are today issuing a consultation paper on the boundary for rating purposes after I April 1990 between domestic and non-domestic property, prior to making the necessary regulations. The paper makes proposals in several areas where it is difficult to draw a clear distinction between domestic and non-domestic use. The main proposal is that individual short-let accommodation, such as holdiay cottages, should be treated as domestic and subject to the standard community charge. We have concluded that this is the most practical course, given the difficulties involved in identification, valuation and monitoring of use that would arise if they were to be liable to non-domestic rates. Holiday complexes, for instance blocks of holiday flats or chalets, will however be subject to rating.

I am placing copies of the consultation paper in the Library.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would have been the average community charge for the whole of Great Britain in 1988–89 based on local authority expenditure returns.

Mr. Gummer

[holding answer 25 November 1988]: The types of service provided by local authorities are not the same in each country and hence an average figure would not be meaningful.

Mr. Rooker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations regarding the arrangements for foreign Governments and diplomats to continue paying broadly the same contributions towards the cost of local services under the poll tax system as under the present rating system.

Mr. Gummer

[holding answer 28 November 1988]: Good progress is being made towards establishing the arrangements for contributions in lieu of the community charge under the new system of local government finance. These will be broadly the same as the contributions made under the present rating system.