§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has any proposals to provide relief from the payment of non-domestic rates to parish halls or similar public buildings;
(2) whether parish halls will be liable for the uniform business rate as proposed in the Local Government Finance Bill.
§ Mr. HowardParish or village halls are presently liable to be rated and will continue to be liable after 1990. Registered charities presently receive 50 per cent. mandatory rate relief, which may be increased to up to 100 per cent. at the local authority's discretion. Local authorities may also give up to 100 per cent. rate relief to other non-profit-making social and recreational clubs and organisations. Some parish halls are run by charitable organisations, but others fall to be dealt with as non-profit
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October 1987 November 1987 December 1987 January 1988 February 1988 March 19881 Antrim 1,180 299 25 154 130 Nil Armagh Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Down Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Fermanagh Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Londonderry 3,234 863 336 48 117 36 Tyrone Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 1 To 20 March. making organisations. We intend to retain the same mandatory and discretionary reliefs under our proposals for rate reform.