Non-Domestic Rates: Valuation

Mrs. Spelman
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to undertake an assessment of the benefits of following the Northern Ireland example of postponing the 2010 business rates revaluation.

Barbara Follett
The postponement of revaluation in Northern Ireland is a devolved decision made by the Northern Ireland Assembly and based on local circumstances.

The five-yearly business rates revaluations make sure each business pays its fair contribution and no more by ensuring the share of the national rates bill paid by any one business reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others. The 2010 revaluation will not raise a single extra penny for Government.

Over a million properties will see their business rate liabilities come down as a result of revaluation. The Government intend to put in place a £2 billion relief scheme to limit the impact on the minority with bill increases. This is on top of the wider support available to help ease business pressures including discounted rate bills for small businesses and deferring tax payments.