EMPTY PROPERTY BUSINESS RATES

Early day motion 2271, tabled 16 October 2008 by Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 15 members.

That this House notes with concern the increasingly detrimental effect of the Government's policy of charging full business rates on empty commercial properties; further notes that some property owners are trying to lease property for as little as 50 pence per square foot because they cannot pay the rates, and other companies are profiting from needlessly demolishing empty properties whose owners cannot afford to pay the tax; and calls on the Government to review this policy in the light of the current economic circumstances and the damage it is doing to the commercial property infrastructure and economic viability of UK business.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 9, Labour 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.