HC Deb 26 April 1989 vol 151 cc573-5W
13. Mr. Grocott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the cost of implementing the community charge in England.

Mr. Gummer

Our estimate of the costs, for both capital and revenue expenditure, of implementing the community charge in 1989–90 in England, based on the Price Waterhouse report, is between £209 million (if all authorities work as efficiently as the most efficient in their category) and £277 million (if authorities maintain their current efficiency). These estimates were at November 1987 prices.

18. Mr. Tredinnick

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the average community charge in each local authority in 1989–90; and if he will make figures available arranged by reference to the controlling party in each such authority.

Mr. Gummer

Illustrative 1989–90 community charges will be published once the data needed from local authorities have been received and analysed. To help my hon. Friend, we shall include details of the controlling parties, drawn from the standard reference works.

23. Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish tables showing the community charge in each local authority area if introduced in 1989–90.

Mr. Gummer

Illustrative 1989–90 community charges will be published once data needed from local authorities have been received and analysed.

45. Mr. Moss

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has made available to explain the workings of the community charge to the general public.

Mr. Gummer

My right hon. Friend has issued a general booklet entitled "You and the community charge: your step by step guide" explaining the whole community charge system. He is also publishing six supplementary leaflets on individual aspects of the community charge. One of these, on exemptions, is already available. The others will cover rebates, the appeal system, the collective community charge, students and the community charge, and second homes. These will be issued over the next few weeks. All of these publications are being made available on request free of charge. In addition my right hon. Friend will send a short leaflet on the community charge to every household in England in May.

49. Mr. Wall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the average community charge if implemented on 1 April 1989.

64. Mr. Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish exemplifications showing what the community charge would have been if introduced on 1 April 1989.

Mr. Gummer

Illustrative 1989–90 community charges will be published once data needed from local authorities have been received and analysed.

59. Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Audit Commission's assessment of the level of benefits to be derived by local authorities from the community charge.

Mr. Gummer

The Commission has made no such assessment.

65. Mr. McAllion

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Government's planned publicity campaign for the commencement of community charge registration in England and Wales.

Mr. Gummer

I refer the hon. Member to the answers which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 20 January and 17 April this year.

67. Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has made any recent assessment of the level of inability to pay the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

The community charge is designed to reflect ability to pay. Rebates of up to 80 per cent. of the charge will be available to those on low incomes, and for those on the lowest incomes, income support will include an amount specifically to help with the remaining 20 per cent.

79. Ms. Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to exempt severe dementia sufferers from payment of the community charge.

Mr. Gummer

I have no plans to do so and will write to the hon. Member giving my reasons.

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