HC Deb 21 April 1989 vol 151 c350W
Mr. Fraser

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reimburse in full to Lambeth council the estimated cost of £3 million for preparations for the collection of poll tax to be incurred in the financial year 1989–90.

Mr. Gummer

No. The Government's grants and capital allocations towards the cost of preparing for the community charge will not necessarily reimburse in full the cost of implementation in each particular authority in view of the freedom available to charging authorities and community charges registration officers to decide what resources to deploy to implement part I of the Local Government Finance Act 1989 in their areas.

The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the decision not to allow the sale of the extract of the community charge register was taken; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

I am sending the hon. Member an extract from a speech giving the reasons by my noble Friend the Earl of Caithness in another place on 29 June 1988. during the passage of the Local Government Finance Bill,Official Report, columns 1689–90.

Mr. Aspinwall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the responses to the 1989 consultation document on the transition of non-domestic rating; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

The Department is evaluating the results of the consultation. Responses to our proposals are still being received. We shall announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of Stale for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that following the introduction of the community charge, private landlords reduce the rents charged to tenants in respect of that element of their rents presently charged on account of the rates.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Department intends to publish a factsheet on community charge and rents inclusive of rates. This factsheet will be made widely available to landlords and tenants from a variety of sources.