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Non-Domestic Rates

Volume 508: debated on Tuesday 6 April 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rate charge was in England in (a) real terms in 2010 prices and (b) cash terms in each year since 1997-98 for which figures are available. (324786)

We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic rates. However, for 1997-98 to 2009-10, the figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities' rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year are shown in the following table.

The figures shown are for England, and are in both cash and in real terms based on 2009 prices. It is not possible to express these figures in April 2010 prices as the relevant deflator is not yet available.

Cash (£)

Real terms (£)

1997-98

6,796

9,196

1998-99

7,016

9,126

1999-2000

6,998

8,959

2000-01

8,264

10,275

2001-02

8,714

10,647

2002-03

9,071

10,919

2003-04

9,137

10,665

2004-05

9,301

10,593

2005-06

9,997

11,035

2006-07

10,275

11,059

2007-08

10,330

10,637

2008-09

11,274

11,142

2009-10

12,145

12,145

The data are taken from national non-domestic rates (NNDR) returns submitted by all billing authorities in England. Figures for 2009-10 are estimates and data for 2010-11 are not yet available.

Comparisons between years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties and hence the actual rates bills vary greatly. Changes in the number of hereditaments on the local lists will also affect the figures. In particular, the figures for 1998-99 to 2000-01 are affected by transfers of properties from the central list to local ones, transfers of crown properties to local lists and adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2000 revaluation. Changes in the figures for the years around 2005-06 are also affected by adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2005 revaluation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rate charge was in each billing authority in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11 in (i) real terms in 2010 prices and (ii) cash terms. (324787)

We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic rates. However, I have today placed in the Library of the House a table containing, for 2009-10, the figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities' rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year.

The data are taken from the national non-domestic rates (NNDR) budget forms completed annually by all billing authorities in England.

Data for 2010-11 are not yet available.

Comparisons with previous years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties, and hence actual rates bills, vary greatly. In addition, the number of hereditaments in an authority may change from year to year. Also comparisons between authorities may not be valid as the data for an authority may be affected by a small number of large hereditaments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rates bill in England (a) was in 1997-98, (b) was in 2009-10 and (c) will be in 2010-11 in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in 2010 prices. (325327)

We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic rates. However, for 1997-98 and 2009-10, figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities’ rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year are shown in the following table.

The figures shown are for England, and are in both cash and in real terms based on 2009 prices. It is not possible to express these figures in April 2010 prices as the relevant deflator is not yet available.

Cash (£)

Real terms (£)

1997-98

6,796

9,196

2009-10

12,145

12,145

The data are taken from national non-domestic rates (NNDR) returns submitted by all billing authorities in England. Figures for 2009-10 are estimates and data for 2010-11 are not yet available.

Comparisons between years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties, and hence the actual rates bills, vary greatly. Changes in the number of hereditaments on the local lists will also affect the figures. In particular, the figures for 1998-99 to 2000-01 are affected by transfers of properties from the central list to local ones, transfers of Crown properties to local lists and adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2000 revaluation. Changes in the figures for the years around 2005-06 are also affected by adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2005 revaluation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average business rates bill was in each Government Office region in each year since 1997-98; and what it is expected to be in each region in 2010-11. (325331)

We do not hold figures for the average bill paid by an individual business for national non-domestic rates. However, for 1997-98 to 2009-10, regional figures derived from dividing the net rate yield from local authorities’ rating lists by the number of hereditaments on the local list as at 31 December of the previous year are shown in the following table.

North East

North West

Yorkshire and the Humber

East Midlands

West Midlands

East of England

London

South East

South West

England

1997-98

5,501

5,215

5,381

5,716

5,686

7,026

10,057

7,208

7,087

6,796

1998-99

5,978

5,589

5,869

6,142

6,250

7,125

10,433

7,759

5,295

7,016

1999-2000

6,159

5,770

6,005

6,251

6,487

7,080

9,792

7,796

5,412

6,998

2000-01

6,968

6,825

6,954

7,237

7,588

8,096

12,033

9,212

6,332

8,264

2001-02

7,305

7,273

7,433

7,670

7,756

8,476

12,842

9,705

6,570

8,714

2002-03

7,498

7,646

7,664

7,846

8,003

8,685

13,753

10,045

6,658

9,071

2003-04

7,518

7,708

7,623

7,893

8,055

8,620

14,124

10,053

6,614

9,137

2004-05

7,701

7,793

7,773

7,955

8,192

8,740

14,484

10,252

6,662

9,301

2005-06

8,367

8,086

8,317

8,477

8,672

9,575

15,705

11,124

7,195

9,997

2006-07

8,704

8,496

8,479

9,021

8,906

10,003

15,886

11,192

7,538

10,275

2007-08

8,941

8,719

8,501

9,189

9,031

9,999

15,733

11,210

7,655

10,330

2008-09

9,452

9,473

9,288

9,946

9,743

10,804

17,482

12,325

8,279

11,274

2009-10

10,157

10,159

10,009

10,610

10,602

11,519

19,120

13,190

8,816

12,145

The data are taken from NNDR returns submitted by billing authorities.

Comparisons across regions and years may not be valid as the rateable values for individual properties, and hence actual rates bills, vary greatly. Changes in the figures for the years around 2000-01 are affected by transfers of properties from the central list to local lists, transfers of crown properties to local lists and the adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2000 revaluation to take account of losses from appeals. Changes in the figures for the years around 2005-06 are also affected by adjustments made to the multiplier at the time of the 2005 revaluation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 6 July 2009, Official Report, column 605W, on non-domestic rates, what projection has been made of the (a) change in rateable value on the ratings list resulting from rateable value appeals and (b) the amount of fees payable by those appealing against their rateable value in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. (323091)

No projection has been made of the change in rateable value on the ratings list resulting from appeals. However, for the purpose of modelling the 2010 transitional relief scheme, my Department has made an assumption about the total reduction in RV as a result of appeals.

The assumptions used for this modelling are detailed in the consultation document titled “The transitional arrangements for the non-domestic rating revaluation 2010 in England”. The methodology and assumptions can be found on page 49 of the consultation. A copy of the consultation document is available at the following link:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/nndrrevaluation2010

There are no fees payable to valuation officers for making proposals challenging rateable values. Nor are there hearing fees payable should the proposal become an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for England. Many ratepayers choose to employ the services of a professional representative to handle their rating liability. This is a personal matter between ratepayer and representative.