HC Deb 29 March 1999 vol 328 cc463-5W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Merseyside for 1999–2000. [78861]

Ms Armstrong

The highest Band D council tax for the metropolitan districts in Merseyside in 1999–2000 will be £1,172 in Liverpool while the lowest will be £920 in Sefton. No authority in Merseyside is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Kent for 1999–2000; [78897]

(2)what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Tyne and Wear for 1999–2000; [78899]

(3) what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Northumberland for 1999–2000; [78901]

(4) what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Lancashire for 1999–2000; [78896]

(5) what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Cumbria for 1999–2000; [78898]

(6) what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in the West Midlands for 1999–2000; [78900]

(7) what is the (a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in North Yorkshire for 1999–2000; [78902]

Ms Armstrong

[holding answer 26 March 1999]The highest and lowest Band D council tax for the shire and metropolitan districts within each of the requested areas in 1999–2000 are in the table. No authority in these areas is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

County Highest £ Lowest £
Lancashire Preston 959 Lancaster 884
Kent Maidstone 797 Gravesham 731
Cumbria Barrow-in-Furness 893 Allerdale 856
Tyne and Wear Newcastle upon Tyne 978 Sunderland 815
West Midlands Coventry 968 Solihull 742
Northumberland Castle Morpeth 908 Blyth Valley 883
North Yorkshire Ryedale 779 Hambleton 695

Mr. Forth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in a London borough for 1999–2000. [78768]

Ms Armstrong

[holding answer 26 March 1999]The highest Band D council tax for the London Boroughs in 1999–2000 will be £912 in Islington while the lowest will be £350 in Westminster. No authority in London is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

Mr. Hammond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Cornwall for 1999–2000. [78765]

Ms Armstrong

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest band D council tax for the shire districts in Cornwall in 1999–2000 will be £759 in North Cornwall while the lowest will be £738 in Penrith. No authority in Cornwall is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, before transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in each shire county in England (i) for 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) as proposed for 1999–2000. [78907]

Ms Armstrong

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The requested information has been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) highest and (b) lowest council tax at Band D for a council billing area, after transitional relief grant and council tax benefit, in Greater Manchester for1999–2000. [78908]

Ms Armstrong

[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The highest Band D council tax for the metropolitan districts in Greater Manchester in 1999–2000 will be £987 in Manchester while the lowest will be £689 in Trafford. No authority in Greater Manchester is eligible for Reorganisation Transitional Relief Grant in 1999–2000 and figures for the amount of Council Tax Benefit that the authorities expect to provide during the year are not yet available.

County Highest £ Lowest £
Bedfordshire South Bedfordshire 912 Mid Bedfordshire 859
Buckinghamshire Chiltern 774 South Buckinghamshire 757
Cambridgeshire Cambridge 737 East Cambridgeshire 703
Huntingdonshire South Cambridgeshire
Cheshire Ellesmere Port and Neston 876 Macclesfield 858
Devon West Devon 802 Exeter 749
Dorset East Dorset 844 North Dorset 809
Durham Sedgefield 967 Chester-le-Street 830
East Sussex Wealden 822 Rother 775
Essex Harlow 872 Brentwood 762
Gloucestershire Stroud 818 Tewkesbury 726
Hampshire East Hampshire 800 Test Valley 756
Hertfordshire Watford 832 Broxbourne 723
Nottinghamshire Newark and Sherwood 970 Rushcliffe 900
West Yorkshire Calderdale 876 Wakefield 756