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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce legislative proposals to extend the mandatory rate relief scheme for village shops to (a) small food shops, (b) pubs and (c) petrol filling stations. [18789] Alun Michael: The village shop rate relief scheme was extended to include pubs and petrol stations in April 2001. Under the scheme, the sole village pub or petrol station with a rateable value of £9,000 or less in a qualifying settlement, is eligible to receive 50 per cent. rate relief from central Government. Local authorities have the power to top the relief up to 100 per cent. In August, a rate relief scheme for farm diversification and village food shops was introduced. Under the scheme, mandatory 50 per cent. rate relief will be provided to all food shops with a rateable value below £6,000 in designated villages of less than 3,000 population. Councils still have the discretion to give up to 100 per cent. relief to any business in a settlement which is eligible for the rate relief scheme with a rateable value below £12,000.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

375 c1094-5W; 18789

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Garages and petrol stations Rates and rating Business rates Public houses Small businesses Tax allowances Shops Retail trade Rural areas

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk