§ Mr. Michael BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce final details of the community charge transitional relief scheme.
§ Mr. Chris PattenFinal details of the community charge transitional relief scheme will be sent to local authorities today and copies have been placed in the Library. The scheme is broadly as proposed in October except that, in the light of suggestions by local government, I have decided that in properties occupied by three or more chargepayers relief based on two assumed community charges will be allocated equally between all chargepayers living in the property and not granted to two nominated individuals as originally proposed. This will simplify the task of making preparations for the scheme and help authorities to issue community charge bills next April which reflect both transitional relief and entitlement to rebates.