asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the current compilation and sending out of domestic rate demands; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has assessed the impact of the National and Local Government Officers Association's decision to cease all work relating to the issuing of rate demands by the local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that individual local authorities and the local authority associations are considering the implications of the industrial action currently affecting the preparation of rate demand notes. It is primarily for the authorities themselves to consider these matters, and it would be premature for me to comment at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the level of rate increases reported for 1980–81.

No. Some authorities have clearly made no serious attempt to reduce their expenditure levels and this is reflected in their rates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the rate increases proposed for 1980–81 for each of the Greater London boroughs in both poundage and percentage terms.

The figures for those London boroughs from which information has been received are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities in England and Wales have announced a rate of less than £1·19 for 1980–81.

Rate details have been received for 324 of the 402 rating authorities in England and Wales. Of these 207 are levying a rate of less than £1·19 for 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average rate bill demanded from ratepayers in the London area for the year 1979–80; and how this compares with a similar ratepayer in the Isle of Wight.

The estimated average domestic rate payment in 1979–80 is £200 in London compared with £156 in the Isle of Wight.