§ Mr. MadelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is(a) the average change and (b) the aggregate change in rate bills for small shops in 1990–91 as against 1989–90.
§ Mr. Chris PattenWhile there is considerable variation in the charges for individual shops, the average rate bill for small shops in England has fallen as a result of the introduction of the uniform business rate and of the non-domestic revaluation: including the effect of the transitional arrangements, there has been a 2 per cent. reduction in real terms compared with 1989–90. The aggregate rate bill of such shops has fallen by £10 million in real terms. This is partly because the uniform business rate has kept the total increase in business rates well below the increase in local authority spending this year. For this purpose small shops are those with rateable values of £500 or more and less than £15,000 in London and £10,000 elsewhere—the definition used in the business rate transitional arrangements.