§ Mr. John GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the impact of the uniform business rate and the non-domestic revaluation on properties in the areas of urban programme authorities, overall and by type of property.
§ Mr. ChopeBusinesses in the areas of the 57 urban programme local authorities in England will on average face substantially lower rate bills as a result of the new system of business rating. At the uniform business rate of 34.8p for 1990–91, the aggregate rate bills of such businesses would be £508 million or 16.3 per cent. lower than in 1989–90 before transition. Most classes of property benefit on average from lower bills. All businesses will have the guarantee that the uniform business rate will in future rise by no more than the rate of inflation. These reforms will therefore give a major fillip to businesses in inner-city areas.
The full figures requested by my hon. Friend are as follows:
487W
Aggregate of old rate bills Aggregate of new rate bills (before transition) Change Change £ million £ million £ million Percentage Shops 659.8 639.7 -20.2 -3.1 Offices 553.9 499.5 -54.3 -9.8 Factories 765.7 447.4 -318.3 -41.6 Warehouses 393.4 263.5 -129.9 -33.0 Other properties 744.6 759.5 14.9 2.0 All properties 3,117.4 2,609.6 -507.8 -16.3