§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table showing the Government's percentage contribution to local expenditure for each year since 1978–79 together with a forecast for(a) the current financial year and (b) 1990–91 based on the budgets which have been agreed by the local authorities to date.
§ Mr. ChopeThe available information is as given in the table:
Aggregate Exchequer grant as percentage of relevant expenditure Per cent. 1978–79 59.8 1979–80 58.6 1980–81 57.2 1981–82 54.9 1982–83 51.7 1983–84 50.1 1984–85 50.0 1985–86 49.0 1986–87 45.4 1987–88 44.4 1988–89 42.5 11989–90 40.5 1 Based on local authority budgets.
§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by local authority area the total amount paid in lieu of non-domestic rates by formula-rated properties in 1989–90 and the equivalent contribution being made to the non-domestic pool in 1990–91.
§ Mr. Chope[holding answer 27 March 1990]: The information that the hon. Member has requested is not held centrally for 1989–90. For 1990–91 the aggregate of the rates bills of those industries appearing on the central rating list for England whose rateable values are set by order is estimated to be £863 million.
§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures showing how the contribution paid in lieu of non-domestic rates by Oxfordshire formula-rated properties is to be redistributed in Oxfordshire in 1990–91.
§ Mr. Chope[holding answer 27 March 1990]: From 1 April rates paid by the industries whose rateable values are fixed by order will be collected by the Secretary of State and paid into the non-domestic rate pool. Attribution of rateable values to properties occupied by these industries in particular local authority areas will no longer be necessary. The proceeds of the non-domestic rate pool will be distributed to charging authorities in proportion to their population of community charge payers.