Rates

HC Deb 12 April 1989 vol 150 cc578-9W

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of total personal disposable income was expended on domestic rates in the years 1959–60, 1979–80, 1984–85 and 1987–88.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Domestic rate payments as a percentage of total personal disposable income in the United Kingdom are estimated to be 2 per cent. in 1979–80, 2.4 per cent. in 1984–85 and 2.6 per cent. in 1987–88. Information for 1959–60 is not available.

Mr. David Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate what the level of the uniform business rate in England would have been(a) in 1987–88 and (b) in 1988–89, if introduced on existing business rateable valuations.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

A uniform business rate for England set at the average level for 1987–88 would have been 224p in the pound. For 1988–89 it would have been 239.5p in the pound.