Town and Country Planning (Hansard, 4 February 1988)

§ Mr. Kirkhope
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977 and its various amendments are to be consolidated.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
We have already published consultation papers on the amendment and consolidation of the minerals classes of the general development order on 30 July 1986 and of class I (Householders' development) on 6 January 1987. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales are issuing today a further consultation paper with drafts of provisions amending and consolidating the remaining classes and articles of the order. The new order and planning applications regulations would also incorporate the provisions of the related special development orders which govern development in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, and conservation areas.
Our main objective is to provide a clearer, simpler text which will be more easily understood. The order and regulations would replace 13 existing orders and 711W amendments. We are also publishing a draft guide which consolidates material in eight extant circulars about the order.
We are also taking the opportunity to make a number of changes to the provisions of the order, including: —removal of the power enabling local highway authorities to direct local planning authorities how to decide planning applications which would affect classified roads. Instead, the local highway authority would have the right to be consulted by the planning authority before the decision is made. — introduction of control over the development of livestock units within 400 metres of non-agricultural buildings. — general permission for certain changes of use, in particular, to allow premises now used for the financial and professional services class of the Use Classes Order 1987 and which have a display window at ground level to be used within the shops class. —restriction of the requirement to consult the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (or, in Wales, the Welsh Office) to applications involving 20 hectares or more of agricultural land of grades 1, 2 and 3a.
Copies of the consultation paper and annexes have been placed in the Library. There is a two-month period for comment, after which we hope it will be possible to proceed within a short time to lay the new order and regulations.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales will be issuing a similar consultation paper.

Figure 1 England 1986–87 prices

Ranges of net household income (£pw)

Under 50 50–75 77–100 100–150 150–200 200–250 250–300 300–350 350–400 450–500 500+ All households

Relationship of gross and net rates to net household income (£ per week)

Rate bills

Gross £ per week 5.50 5.94 6.32 6.58 7.18 7.64 8.18 8.90 9.69 10.24 13.10 7.40

Net £ per week 1.73 2.75 3.97 5.80 6.95 7.54 8.09 8.81 9.64 10.20 13.04 6.37

As a percentage of net income in each range

Gross 13.1 9.6 7.3 5.3 4.1 3.4 3.0 2.8 2.6 2.3 2.1 3.8

Net 4.1 4.4 4.6 4.7 4.0 3.4 3.0 2.7 2.6 2.3 2.1 3.3

Relationship of gross and net Community Charge (and residual domestic rates) to net household income, with safety nets¹

Gross £ per week 4.13 4.86 6.46 6.79 7.58 8.09 8.70 9.40 9.74 10.54 12.00 7.44

Net £ per week 1.39 2.25 3.78 5.82 7.12 7.77 8.34 9.08 9.43 10.15 11.48 6.33

As a percentage of net income in each range

Gross 9.8 7.8 7.4 5.4 4.3 3.6 3.2 2.9 2.6 2.4 1.9 3.9

Net 3.3 3.6 4.3 4.7 4.1 3.5 3.0 2.8 2.5 2.3 1.8 3.3

¹ The transitional safety net arrangements were announced on 17 November 1987.

§ Mr. Cousins
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what factors he attributes the variations in increases in gross and net rates for each income band between 1984–85, as in annex F of "Paying for Local Government", and 1986–87, as in his Department's note on the relationship between local taxes and income and the distributional impact of the community charge.

§ Mr. Howard
[holding answer 3 February 1988]: In general, the increases in net and gross domestic rate bills are much as expected in the light of the average increases in rates between 1984–85 and 1987–88. Rate increases have not been uniform over the period, however. Outside London rates have increased by nearly 40 per cent. while in inner London, mainly as a result of the successful application of rate capping, rates have reduced by 7 per cent. This variation might explain in part the small differences in rate increases for bands of household income

Figure 1	England 1986–87 prices
	Ranges of net household income (£pw)
	Under 50	50–75	77–100	100–150	150–200	200–250	250–300	300–350	350–400	450–500	500+	All households
Relationship of gross and net rates to net household income (£ per week)
Rate bills
Gross £ per week	5.50	5.94	6.32	6.58	7.18	7.64	8.18	8.90	9.69	10.24	13.10	7.40
Net £ per week	1.73	2.75	3.97	5.80	6.95	7.54	8.09	8.81	9.64	10.20	13.04	6.37
As a percentage of net income in each range
Gross	13.1	9.6	7.3	5.3	4.1	3.4	3.0	2.8	2.6	2.3	2.1	3.8
Net	4.1	4.4	4.6	4.7	4.0	3.4	3.0	2.7	2.6	2.3	2.1	3.3
Relationship of gross and net Community Charge (and residual domestic rates) to net household income, with safety nets¹
Gross £ per week	4.13	4.86	6.46	6.79	7.58	8.09	8.70	9.40	9.74	10.54	12.00	7.44
Net £ per week	1.39	2.25	3.78	5.82	7.12	7.77	8.34	9.08	9.43	10.15	11.48	6.33
As a percentage of net income in each range
Gross	9.8	7.8	7.4	5.4	4.3	3.6	3.2	2.9	2.6	2.4	1.9	3.9
Net	3.3	3.6	4.3	4.7	4.1	3.5	3.0	2.8	2.5	2.3	1.8	3.3
¹ The transitional safety net arrangements were announced on 17 November 1987.