§ Brian CotterTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister which hon. Members have made representations to his Department regarding the concerns of businesses in their constituencies about the low rateable value eligibility threshold of the proposed small business rates relief scheme. [179252]
§ Phil HopeThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received letters from nearly sixty hon. Members on the rate relief scheme since the enabling provisions were enacted in the Local Government Act 2003 last September. As stated during the passage of the Bill we will be reviewing the thresholds for the scheme in the light of any general increase of rateable values arising from the general revaluation which, like the rate relief scheme, will take effect from 1 April 2005.