Payment for Production Assets, part of the profits of an enterprise or association paid into the budget for utilising the fixed production assets. Payment for production assets is an economic lever wielded by the state to promote the economic interests of associations (enterprises) and to induce 266 them to make more effective use of their assets. The greater the output-asset ratio, the more profit an enterprise obtains. Soviet enterprises make payments into the budget every month, regardless of their fulfilment of the profit plan. Payment for assets is a major item in the budget, its proportion in the total state income amounting to more than 10 per cent, and its share in profit payments to as much as 33 per cent. The standard asset payment is usually 6 per cent, and in certain industries with a relatively low profitability, it is 3 per cent of the value of the fixed production assets and rated means of circulation. In the tobacco and tea-packing industries, payment for assets is 10 per cent. No payment is collected for fixed production assets created at the expense of the production development fund for two years, and for those created from bank credits up to the repayment of the loan; no payment is collected for new enterprises and large production installations during the period of putting their capacities into operation as specified by industrial standards. Nor is payment collected for the fixed assets conserved on the decision of the Councils of Ministers of Union Republics; for facilities that clean the air and water basins of harmful production waste, and facilities and plant improving labour safety and industrial hygiene, and greenery on balance within the enterprises’ fixed assets. Moreover, some categories of fixed assets may be exempted from payment for productive assets by Ministries of the USSR and Councils of Ministers of the Union Republics.