Rates

Mr. Pavitt
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now seek to make it mandatory for local authorities to allow commercial property owners to pay their rates by instalments in the same way as domestic ratepayers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope
Since 1 April 1985, all business ratepayers have been entitled to pay their rates by instalments.-------------------------------------------------------------
|                                                           |
-------------------------------------------------------------
|                                                           |
-------------------------------------------------------------
|Area of land recorded on the land register at end of period|
-------------------------------------------------------------
|Area of land added                                         |
-------------------------------------------------------------
|Area of land removed                                       |
-------------------------------------------------------------
|(i) Area sold                                              |
-------------------------------------------------------------
|(ii) Area broughl back into use                            |
-------------------------------------------------------------
|(iii) Area removed for other reasons                       |
-------------------------------------------------------------