§ Edward DaveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to(a) his Department, (b) the Northern Ireland Rate Collection Agency, (c) the Northern Ireland Valuation and Lands Agency and (d) local authorities was of administering domestic rates in Northern Ireland in the financial years (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03; and what the estimated costs are for the financial years (A) 2003–04 and (B) 2004–05. [169955]
§ Mr. PearsonIt is not possible without incurring disproportionate cost to disaggregate the administration of domestic rates from non-domestic rates. The figures in table 1 as follows, are the direct costs, including non-cash, of administering all rates in relation to(a) the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration (b) the Northern Ireland Rate Collection Agency and (c) the Northern Ireland Valuation and Lands Agency. Information is not readily held in relation to (d) local authorities and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Table 1 £000 Outturn Estimate 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 (a) Core Departments1 n/a n/a 743 768 (b) Rate Collection Agency 7,505 7,328 8,914 10,223 (c) Valuation and Lands Agency 6,679 5,731 6,504 7,555 1 Core Departments include the cost of policy development.