HC Deb 14 December 1988 vol 143 c624W
72. Mr. Clelland

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the level of rate rises from April 1989.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

We estimate that if all authorities in England spend in line with the proposed 1989–90 rate support grant settlement, the average rate increase for next year will be substantially less than inflation.