asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the average domestic rates payment made by householders in (a) each of the counties of Wales and (b) each of the districts of Wales in each of the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76;(2) what was the average domestic rates payment made by householders in Wales in each of the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76; and what were the corresponding figures for England.

The following table shows the average payments in Wales and in England in the years in question:

	Wales	England
	£	£
1973–74	49	67
1974–75	33	70
1975–76	51*	94*
* Estimated.

The rates for 1974–75 and 1975–76 are not strictly comparable with those for 1973–74 since the later years will have been affected very substantially by the increase in domestic relief and also by the transfer of responsibility for water and sewerage services and for school health and local health services from local government and the payment of 90 per cent. grants for mandatory student awards.Information about the average payments by counties and districts in Wales is being collected and I will write to my hon. Friend.