§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any representations from the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the Association of County Councils or the Association of District Councils on alternative methods of financing local government spending to replace the domestic rate system.
§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what alternative sources of local government finance, other than local income tax, his Department is considering to replace the present domestic rating system.
§ Mr. KingThe Government are considering a number of alternative possibilities including those discussed in the Layfield report on local government finance.
§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to introduce proposals for the replacement of the present domestic rating system.
§ Mr. KingThe Government are currently considering alternative approaches to the problems of local government finance. I cannot yet say when we shall be ready to bring forward proposals about domestic rating. As we made clear in the manifesto, reductions in income tax must take priority for the time being.
§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how large a proportion of the domestic rate burden to householders could be levied in a local poll tax applied to the electoral register.
§ Mr. KingDomestic rates in England and Wales yield about £2.5 billion in the current year. Theoretically it might be possible to raise that amount or a smaller sum from a local poll tax; but simple poll taxes have been the subject of650W considerable criticism because they take no account of ability to pay.