To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will make a statement about the level of rate increases in Greater London.

The average rise in domestic rate poundages in 1989–90 for the London boroughs and the City is 9·9 per cent., slightly above the national average.The average masks a wide range of changes. In the six rate-capped authorities in London the average domestic rate poundage has decreased by 4·7 per cent. In Conservative boroughs the average rise is 7·6 per cent., compared wth 21·6 per cent. in those Labour boroughs which are not rate capped.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the total rate in the pound payable by a resident in the London boroughs of (a) Lambeth, (b) Camden, (c) Islington, (d) Southwark, (e) Brent and (f) Haringey, including Greater London council, Inner London education authority and other precepts where appropriate, and the district of Taunton Deane, Somerset, in the years 1980–81, 1984–85, 1986–87 and 1989–90.

The total rate in the pound, payable by a resident in the authorities listed for the years specified, is as follows: