Business Rates (Hansard, 2 March 1992)

§ Mr. Blunkett
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the amounts outstanding in unpaid business rates for 1990–91 and 1991–92.

§ Mr. Portillo
I estimate that up to 31 December 1991 a total of £9,130 million was collectable from non-domestic rates in respect of properties on local rating lists for the 1990–91 financial year. By 31 December 1991 local authorities had collected £8,960 million.
For 1991–92, I estimate that £10,600 million of non-domestic rates are collectable within the year. By 31 December 1991 local authorities had collected £8,180million.

§ Mr. Blunkett
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the revenue available to local authorities from business rates for each year from 1979–80 to 1992–93 showing the figures in £ million and constant prices.

§ Mr. Portillo
The available information is as follows:

Local authority non-domestic rates

¹Non-domestic rates £ million 1991–92 prices £ million

1979–80 3,354 7,798

1980–81 4,169 8,191

1981–82 5,013 8,982

1982–83 5,685 9,509

1983–84 6,042 9,659

1984–85 6,361 9,684

1985–86 6,740 9,725

1986–87 7,566 10,569

1987–88 8,088 10,715

1988–89 8,819 10,901

1989–90 9,595 11,138

1990–91 10,429 11,159

1991–92 12,408 12,408

1992–93 12,306 11,776

¹ For the years 1979–80 to 1989–90 this represents non-domestic rate yields net of rate relief. For the years 1990–91 to 1992–93 this represents the distributable amount from the non-domestic rates pool.

§ Mr. Blunkett
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his best estimates of the amount of business rates being transferred between gainers and losers under the uniform business rate safety net arrangements for 1992–93, showing the amounts deferred for both categories.

§ Mr. Portillo
I estimate that the amount of business rate increases in England being deferred for losers is about £475 million. An equal amount of reduction for gainers is also being deferred.

Local authority non-domestic rates
	¹Non-domestic rates £ million	1991–92 prices £ million
1979–80	3,354	7,798
1980–81	4,169	8,191
1981–82	5,013	8,982
1982–83	5,685	9,509
1983–84	6,042	9,659
1984–85	6,361	9,684
1985–86	6,740	9,725
1986–87	7,566	10,569
1987–88	8,088	10,715
1988–89	8,819	10,901
1989–90	9,595	11,138
1990–91	10,429	11,159
1991–92	12,408	12,408
1992–93	12,306	11,776
¹ For the years 1979–80 to 1989–90 this represents non-domestic rate yields net of rate relief. For the years 1990–91 to 1992–93 this represents the distributable amount from the non-domestic rates pool.