§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what payments he expects to make in 1990–91 to(a) Newcastle and (b) Gateshead metropolitan district in order to offset forgone uniform business rate in the Tyneside enterprise zone; and what payments he made in 1989–90 in respect of business rate forgone.
§ Mr. ChopeIn 1989–90 the payments to Newcastle upon Tyne city council and Gateshead metropolitan borough council in respect of business rates forgone on the Tyneside enterprise zone were £1,845,007 and £12,921,234 respectively. Under the new local government finance system business properties in enterprise zones are exempt from rating. The amount which Newcastle and Gateshead contribute to the national pool reflects this exemption. A figure broadly equivalent to the amount of rates that would have been paid but for this exemption was added to the revenue support grant for England for 1990–91.