To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the evidential basis was for the statement in the 2008 Pre-Budget Report that 70 per cent. of all empty properties would be covered by the temporary increase in the threshold for empty property relief. (241811)

Communities and Local Government publishes details of revenue received through business rates by region and according to value bands.

The data are available at:

http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/stats/lgfs/2008/lgfs18/LGFS18-2-3a.xls