Diana welcomes plans to scrap 'Backdated Ports Rates'

5.24.46pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th Jul 2010

Diana has welcomed the announcement of legislation to waive the £175 million of backdated business rates demands that had been levied on ports businesses in the Humber sub-region.

For port operators on the Humber Estuary, estimated bills totalled £19 million for 59 properties in Grimsby and Immingham, £8.5million for 62 properties in Hull and £2.75 million for 58 properties at Goole.

As early as January last year Diana and her two Liberal Democrat parliamentary colleagues from the north of England pointed out in a letter to The Times that trade from the ports could be lost to continental ports such as Rotterdam and that the rate hike could also move freight from sea to air, making global warming worse.

Diana said: "I am very pleased the Liberal Democrat-Conservative Coalition Government announced in the Budget legislation to waive the £175 million of backdated business rates demands that had been levied on ports businesses in the Humber sub-region.

"At a time when the credit crunch is making life difficult for small businesses, the Government is doing the right thing by not adding to the burden."

MEPs weigh in on Port Rating row: http://dianawallismep.org.uk/news/000675/meps_weigh_in_on_port_rating_row.html