Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of how much of the government receipt from business rates forecast for 2014-15 will be contributed by food and drink business with a rateable value lower than £50,000.

We have introduced a £1 billion business rate support package for 2014-15 including:

• a 2 per cent cap in the Retail Price Index increase;
• a discount of £1,000 for around 300,000 shops, pubs and restaurants with
• rateable values below £50,000,
• doubling small business rate relief extended for another year benefitting over half a million businesses;
• a 50 per cent discount for new occupants of long-term vacant shops, and
• allowing ratepayers to pay bills over 12 instalments.

This package will benefit all businesses but particularly those with a lower rateable

value. Local authority forecasts of business rates are not available split by rateable

value threshold or business sector.

As at 31 March 2013, 89% of hereditaments had a rateable value of £50,000 or

lower. As at 31 March 2013, large properties (those with a rateable value equal to

or greater than £50,000) account for 72% of rateable value. These data are taken

from the Valuation Office Agency’s disclosure log, available at the following link:

http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/About/Policy/disclosureLogResponses2013.html