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Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Volume 493: debated on Thursday 4 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many port operators have opted for the fast-track review of their business rate assessment offered by her Department; how many such reviews have been completed to date; and how long on average it has taken to complete such reviews to date. (277773)

Following implementation by the Valuation Office Agency, on 24 November 2008, of fast track arrangements for ratepayers with backdated bills who want to question or challenge their assessment, 261 formal proposals, more commonly referred to as appeals, have been received. All have been handled under the “fast track” arrangements. As of 27 May 2009, 57 of these have been fully settled. The average duration between receipt and full settlement of an appeal is 45 days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to publish each quarter a report of (a) the number and percentage of port operators required to pay business rates retrospectively that have made payments, (b) the number of port operators that have not paid retrospective business rates and (c) the number of port operators that have ceased trading in the preceding quarter. (277774)