To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many premises received small business rate relief in each of the last five years in (a) Castle Point and (b) Essex. (212060)

Castle Point borough council reported there were 625 businesses in their area in receipt of small business rate relief as at 31 December 2006, the only year for which this information is currently available.

At the same date, local authorities in Essex reported there were a total of 13,242 businesses in receipt of small business rate relief.