§ Sir Donald Kaberryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average amount of costs payable by a ratepayer after a summons has been issued to be heard in a magistrates' court for non-payment of local rates.
§ Mr. KingThe information is not available in the form requested. Local authorities are entitled under section 105(1) of the General Rate Act 1967 to charge costs incurred in the issue and service of a summons for nonpayment of rates and no direction as to the level of charges is given. It is for each individual authority, therefore. to decide how much to charge and no central record is kept.