HC Deb 10 December 2001 vol 376 cc578-9W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the cost of restoring the policy of giving a share of the uniform business rate to (a) parish and (b) town councils. [21448]

Dr. Whitehead

I have made no assessment. Parish and town councils have never had a share of the revenue from the national non-domestic rate—or uniform business rate—since its introduction in 1990. Their main source of funding is—and will remain—the council tax.