§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by local authority in England and Wales the current percentage rate of community charge outstanding in respect of the uniform business rate.
§ Mr. Robin SquireCommunity charge is not payable in respect of the uniform business rate. Authorities in 565W England collected 89 per cent. of their 1991–92 budgeted community charge income by 31 March 1992 and 95 per cent. of their non-domestic rates income by the same date.
I have today placed in the Library of the House collection figures for each authority in England. Figures for Welsh authorities are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average annual increase in uniform business rate in(a) the South Lakeland district area and (b) the rest of England and Wales for 1991 and the current year.
§ Mr. Robin Squire[holding answer 11 June 1992]: In each financial year the increase in the uniform business rate poundage is limited to the rate of inflation as measured by the retail prices index in September of the preceding year. This was 10.9 and 4.1 per cent. in 1991–92 and 1992–93 respectively.
In 1991–92 the annual increase in the aggregate rate bill for businesses in the South Lakeland district was 17.4 per cent. and for the rest of England and Wales it was 10.1 per cent. These figures take account not only of the increase in the poundage, but also of the transitional arrangements which are phasing in the effect of the 1990 reforms. For the current year, taking account of the changes to the transitional arrangements proposed in the Budget, we estimate the figures to be 2.8 per cent. and zero respectively.