HC Deb 19 February 1986 vol 92 cc210-1W
27. Mr. Allan Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government."

28. Mr. Hirst

asked the Secretary of State for the environment what reaction there has been so far from members of the public to his Department's Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government"; and if he will make a statement.

29. Mr. Patrick Thompson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had in response to publication of the Green Paper entitled "Paying for Local Government".

31. Mr. Favell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the proposals for non-domestic rates in the Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government".

33. Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what initial responses he has received to the Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government" so far.

39. Mr. Sedgemore

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received in response to his Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government".

Mr. Waldegrave

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friends to the reply my hon. Friend gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow).

50. Mr. Evans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next proposes meeting the local authority associations in order to discuss the Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government".

Mr. Waldegrave

We have proposed that the Green Paper should be on the agenda for the meeting of the consultative council on local government finance on 12 March.

51. Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now extend the consultation period in respect of the Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government".

Mr. Waldegrave

Yes. While it would still be helpful to have earlier comments, my right hon. Friend has written to the local authority associations, the Confederation of British Industry and the Association of British Chambers of Commerce informing them that, with the exception of the proposals on capital expenditure, he is prepared to extend the consultation period in England to 1 October 1986.

54. Mr. Ryman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities in response to the proposals on capital expenditure contained in the Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government".

Mr. Waldegrave

It is too soon to assess the response. The consultation period does not close until 14 April.

62. Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to publish all responses to the Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government".

Mr. Waldegrave

We shall publish an analysis of the responses we have received at the end of the consultation period and place it in the Library.

Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for the environment if he will give details of the studies which have led to the view on the likelihood of evasion of a community charge expressed in paragraph G.22 of the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government", Cmnd. 9714.

Mr. Waldegrave

The Green Paper acknowledges that taxes levied on immovable property are the easiest to collect. But evasion rates of other taxes such as income tax, are still low overall. While the community charge was being phased in, an element of rates would remain. This would carry over some of the operational strengths of the old system while the new system was settling down. As well as undertaking canvasses of their areas authorities would be able to draw on the many other sources of information available to them in compiling the community charge register.