HC Deb 19 January 1990 vol 165 cc439-40W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the extent of retail floorspace in the Tyneside enterprise zone in each year since E2 status was declared distinguishing between floorspace in Newcastle and Gateshead.

English Heritage also took over responsibility for the Greater London council's historic buildings division and historic house museums; this is reflected in the total 1986–87 figures below. Accounting procedures within the Department during 1981–1984 differed from those subsequently adopted for and by English Heritage. As a result comparable information for 1981–82 and total grant "offers" for 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The table reflects voted provision for expenditure (rather than grant-in-aid which did not apply) by the Department in 1982–83 and 1983–84 on the activities later transferred to English Heritage.

Mr. Moynihan

The table shows the amount of retail floorspace in the enterprise zone for each year for which information by type of use has been available. The year 1987 is the latest for which such information has been published. There is no breakdown for individual parts of the zone. As the hon. Member will be aware, however, the large majority of the increase in retail floorspace has taken place in the Gateshead area.

Retail floorspace in Tyneside enterprise zone
Year '000 sq m
1984 0.2
1985 4
1986 20
1987 129

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the sums paid by Government to(a) Newcastle and (b) Gateshead council in 1989–90 in substitution of rates due from properties in the Tyneside enterprise zone, distinguishing between industrial and commercial property.

Mr. Moynihan

Claims made by local authorities in respect of rate revenue forgone in enterprise zones do not distinguish between industrial and commercial property. Payments made so far in 1989–90 to Gateshead metropolitan borough council and Newcastle city council amount to £10,835,487 and £1,518,385 respectively. The authorities' final claims are likely to add a further 10 per cent. to these figures.

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