To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many small businesses in (a) Tamworth constituency and (b) the West Midlands claimed relief under the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme in the most recent period for which figures are available. (283230)

Tamworth borough council reported that the number of businesses receiving small business rate relief was 422 at 31 December 2006, the latest date for which data are available. At the same date, the number of businesses in the West Midlands receiving small business rate relief was 40,138. Data are not available at constituency level.