Written question asked by Lord Livsey of Talgarth (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 24 April 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 May 1998. It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 May 1998 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to reverse the trend of rural shop closures.

Answer: Mr. Livsey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to reverse the trend of rural shop closures. [40134] Angela Eagle: Under the Local Government and Rating Act 1997, as of 1 April 1998 the sole general store and the sole post office in a rural settlement of 3,000 people or fewer are entitled to 50 per cent. mandatory relief, subject to a rateable value limit of £5,000. Local authorities may top this relief up to 100 per cent. if they wish. In addition, the Rural Development Commission operates a Village Shop Development Scheme which provides grants to help rural shopkeepers maintain and wherever possible, improve the performance of village shops in settlements of less than 3,000.

Secondary information