§ Mr. PendryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to bring local authority rate relief for non-profit-making sports clubs in England and Wales into line with the situation in Scotland.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyLocal authorities levying rates in England and Wales, as in Scotland, have discretion to grant up to 100 per cent. rate relief to sports clubs and other non-profit-making organisations and will continue to do so after 1 April 1990.
Paragraphs 20 and 21 of the consultation paper of 16 March 1989 on "Payments into the National Non-Domestic Rating Pool" set out the Government's proposals on the way in which the cost of any such relief should be met in England and Wales. The proposed approach, which differs from that in Scotland, is for the cost to be borne equally by community charge payers and by the national non-domestic rating pool. A number of representations on this point have been received and careful consideration is being given to the arguments advanced. I hope that a decision on this can be announced before too long.