§ 15. Mr. RuffleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy on local business rates. [39520]
§ Mr. RaynsfordWe issued our consultation paper "Modernising local government: Business rates" on 30 March, with our proposals for a local supplement on the business rate. The consultation period ends on 1 June. We are continuing our detailed discussions with representatives of business and local government, and we shall consider all responses to the consultation paper before we make a final decision on a local supplement.