§ Mr. KnapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 20 December,Official Report, column 330, what is his assessment of the effect on rate bills of the uniform business rate and the non-domestic revaluation, based on the local rating lists which came into force on 1 April.
§ Mr. NichollsI am placing in the Library an analysis of the combined effects of the revaluation and the introduction of the uniform business rate in England and Wales.
Between December and April there was a net addition to the rating lists representing an increase of about 2 to 3 per cent. in rateable values and rate bills. Overall the average by which rateable values have increased for properties occupied by private businesses and the nationalised industries has risen slightly to 8.1 times in England and to 8.5 times in Wales. The changes to the rating lists reflect the correction of errors, revisions based on later information or new regulations and the addition of new properties completed after the December lists were published