asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) to the hon. Member for Blackburn, Official Report, 26 January, column 294, what estimate he is able to make of the total amount of rates paid in England and Wales by companies paying, or entitled to pay, corporation tax at the small companies' rate.

My Department does not have the information on which to base such an estimate.