Written question asked by Caroline Spelman (Conservative) on Wednesday, 16 December 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 January 2010. It was answered by Barbara Follett (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 January 2010 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Putney of 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 131W, on non-domestic rates: empty property, if he will place in the Library a copy of the representations from the six trade bodies; and what the names are of the 349 groups making written representations, excluding any which have requested confidentiality.

Answer: The representations from the six trade bodies have been placed in the House Library. The names of other groups that made representations to my Department are:"Association of Convenience Stores;""Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation;""The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire;""Weymouth Chamber of Commerce;""Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce;""Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors."The names of private individuals who made representations are not being disclosed on data protection grounds.Our reforms to empty property relief are principled and right for the long-term. They provide a strong incentive on owners to bring empty property back into use, helping to improve access to premises for businesses and so to exert a downward pressure on commercial rents.However, we provided owners with real help to manage short-term pressures in a difficult property market by exempting all empty properties with rateable values up to £15,000 from business rates in 2009-10.We have listened to the continued concerns of owners and are extending the temporary measure for a further 12 months—to cover the whole of 2010-11—and we are uprating the threshold to £18,000 in line with the general movement of property values at revaluation.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 503 c234W; 308981
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP2010-0027
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Deposited papers
House of Commons; Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property
Friday, 5 February 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Empty property Business rates
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk