§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the average community charge would be if it were in place in 1988–89 for income support claimants.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 15 December 1988]: No information is available for income support claimants which enables the hon. Member's question to be answered in the form requested. However, based on data contained in the family expenditure survey and the illustrative community charge figures published on 23 June 1988, I estimate that the average community charge, after rebates, payable by people entitled to income support in England would have been about £1 per week in 1988–89. This assumes that those entitled to claim income support will in fact claim it. This sum would be fully covered by the specific increases in income support to cover community charge payments, which have already been announced.