§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any special provisions are to he made to mitigate the impact of the unified business rate on small businesses initially.
§ Mr. ChopeYes. There will be transitional protection for businesses facing large increases as a result of the combined effects of the 1990 revaluation and the introduction on 1 April 1990 of a uniform national business rate. There will be a ceiling of 20 per cent. on the amount by which any rate bill can rise in any one year in real terms for properties with a rateable value of £10,000 in the new rating list (£15,000 in London) or more. But for properties with a rateable value between £500 and £10,000 (£15,000 in London)—which will include 75 per cent. of all business premises—the annual ceiling will be 15 per cent. in real. terms.