§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what loss of income will accrue to Lambeth council when uniform business rates are not paid within the year to which demands relate.
§ Mr. ChopeUnder the Non-Domestic Rating Contributions (England) Regulations 1989 (S I 2435), charging authorities in inner London, in calculating their provisional contributions to the national non-domestic rating pool, may deduct an allowance for possible losses of 0.45 per cent. of their estimated rate yield for the year. The regulations provide for all losses to be offset against contributions to the pool at outturn stage, subject to audit. Provision may be made at outturn stage for amounts which may have to be written off, again subject to audit. These arrangements were agreed by the local authority associations.