§ 91. Mr. Geraint HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the uniform business rate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 February 1990 to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) at column446.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the London borough of Wandsworth will gain from the uniform business rate in 1990–91 as against its current revenue from business and commercial rates.
§ Mr. ChopeUnder the new system of local government finance, non-domestic rate receipts will be distributed as an equal amount per community charge payer and will go to reducing charges. Because of the associated change to the new revenue support grant system and because of major changes in local authority function in inner London, comparisons of levels of business rate income between 1989–90 and 1990–91, or of grant support, do not imply a corresponding effect on community charges. External financial support to authorities (before the safety net and special grants) is 679W distributed between authorities so as to enable a charge of broadly £278 to be set in each area if the authorities provide a standard level of service.