§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the aggregate increase in uniform business rates payable by all NHS trusts and health authorities in England and Wales from 1 April 2000 as a result of the 2000 rating revaluation. [96256]
§ Mr. DenhamThe draft rating list will be published in December. The cost of unified business rates for the National Health Service in England will be dependent on the rate poundage and the extent of transitional relief. Decisions on these will be taken in January.
Disclosure of any provisional assessment of the impact of the rating revaluation is considered to be commercially sensitive and so premature disclosure would be inappropriate.
Information relating to Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, the First Secretary to the National Assembly for Wales.