asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment has been made of the alteration caused by the Scottish rating revaluation to the competitive position of industry in Scotland compared with industry in other parts of the United Kingdom.

We estimate that the general revaluation of all property in Scotland, taken together with the reduction in industrial derating from 50 per cent to 40 per cent both effective from 1 April 1985, leave the competitive position of Scottish manufacturing industry unchanged by comparison with England and Wales.