§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take in order to provide assistance for petrol stations in rural Scotland. [49705]
608W
§ Mr. WilsonInformation on students who spent part of their secondary education at a particular school is not available. However, information on students at Scottish higher education institutions whose last school attended was Eton College, Wellington College, Charterhouse or Westminster school is given in the table.
§ Mr. MacdonaldIn addition to the schemes to provide rate relief to rural retail outlets, including petrol stations, and the derogation obtained from the Petrol Vapour Recovery Directive, petrol stations will benefit from the Rural Transport Funding Package announced as part of the Budget. Four hundred thousand pounds a year for three years is being targeted at assisting qualifying petrol stations with capital costs arising from complying with regulations.
§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many petrol stations are eligible for rates relief under the terms of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997; [49701]
(2) if he will estimate the cost in terms of lost business rate revenue of granting all petrol stations in 609W rural Scottish communities with a population of 3,000 or less 100 per cent. business rate relief; [49702]
(3) how many petrol stations have (a) applied for and (b) received rates relief under the terms of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997; [49703]
(4) if he will estimate (a) the average rates bill paid by petrol stations in rural communities in Scotland with a population of 3,000 or less and (b) this figure as a percentage of their total operating costs. [49704]
§ Mr. MacdonaldIt is estimated that there are 350 rural petrol filling stations in settlements of less than 3,000 population which may be eligible for rates relief under the provisions of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997. The total estimated cost of providing 100 per cent. rate relief to these filling stations, based on an estimated average rates bill of £1,255, would be £0.44 million. The rate relief provisions which came into effect from 1 April 1998 are administered by the local authorities, and details of the numbers of filling stations applying for and being awarded rate relief are not held centrally. The Government do not hold detailed figures for the total operating costs of rural petrol stations.