To ask the Secretary of State for Wales with reference to the Answer of 16 July 2008, Official Report, column 458W, on non-domestic rates: Wales, whether the 2005 council tax revaluation in Wales was revenue-neutral excluding the effect of transitional relief. (253518)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 24 April 2008, Official Report, column 2180W. The 2005 council tax revaluation and rebanding exercise was revenue-neutral in that increases in council tax receipts during the year of the revaluation and subsequently arose from councils’ decisions on raising council tax, rather than the revaluation. The rises were in line with increases in previous years.

The increase in band D council tax was 3.8 per cent. between 2004-05 and 2005-06; 4.5 per cent. between 2005-06 and 2006-07, and 4.4 per cent. between 2006-07 and 2007-08.