§ Angela SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he intends to take to amend the eligibility of small business owners to serve blight notices in the light of the 2000 non-domestic rating revaluation; and if he will make a statement. [114488]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Town and Country Planning (Blight Provisions) (England) Order, laid today, will raise from £18,000 to £24,600 the annual rateable value limit at or below which businesses are eligible to serve a blight notice. The change, which will come into effect on 1 April 2000, means that small businesses will not be disadvantaged when the year 2000 non-domestic rate revaluation comes into effect on the same date.
The new threshold also applies to businesses claiming compensation for loss of value under Part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 when their premises are affected by physical factors such as noise, vibration, fumes and artificial lighting from the use of new or altered public works such as highways and aerodromes.
This threshold also applies under the 1973 Act to enable proprietors aged 60 or over to claim disturbance compensation on the basis of the total extinguishment of their business when they are subject to a compulsory purchase order. This allows claimants of that age to retire if they do not want to re-establish their business elsewhere.