To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel, pursuant to AQW 41882/11-15, to detail (i) the criteria used to indicate locations and sectors which have not fared so well since 2001; and (ii) the changes in rate liability for these locations and sectors

The criteria is simple. A revaluation seeks to closely follow the market as at an earlier in time, fixed valuation date. It is therefore the relative changes in market rental values that occurred from 2001 to the new valuation date of 2013 that affect the outcome of the 2015 revaluation. Anything that affects rents - demand, supply, location, size, type, condition and services, to name some of the main factors, will be evidenced in the new rateable values.

Locations and sectors that have not fared so well will be those that experienced lower than average rental growth, comparing 2001 rental levels to 2013 rental levels.

Analysis showing changes in rate liability for business sectors in each of the 26 district council areas is available to view at www.dfpni.gov.uk/lps/index/reval2015ni/local_briefings.htm. Additionally the website now shows for each of the new Net Annual Values (NAVs), rate poundages and annual rates estimates for 2015/16 and the percentages changes from 2014/15, at http://revalpublication.dfpni.gov.uk/.