Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are their estimates, based on reports from local authorities, of the start-up and annual costs of collecting the community charge and the additional staff that will be required, to allow a comparison to be made with the advice from management consultants.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)My right honourable friend will discuss with the local authority associations their estimates of the cost of preparing for and collecting the community charge and of the additional staff required in the light of the Price Waterhouse Report on which I made a statement on 23rd June [Official Report, Vol. 498, cols. 1042–1043] in reply to my noble friend Lord Sandford.