§ 19. Mr. RiddickTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the rebate system for the community charge; and how many people he expects to take advantage of it.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe community charge benefit scheme to be introduced in April this year is significantly more generous than the old rate rebates system. We estimate that 9.75 million chargepayers will be helped in 1990–91, at a cost of £1.75 billion.
§ 71. Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the cost of advertising and explaining the community charge rebate.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardCommunity charge benefit is being advertised by the Department of Social Security, the Department of the Environment, the Welsh Office and Scottish Office and by local authorities. The Department of Social Security will shortly publish an information leaflet and the Department of the Environment has also published a series of leaflets on rebates and reductions. The total cost of these leaflets will be over £300,000. The Department of the Environment's advertising campaign covering newspapers, magazines, television and radio ran from January to February at a cost of £4 million. Local authorities are responsible for the day-to-day administration of community charge benefit, and may advertise community charge benefit in ways that they consider to be suitable. It is not possible to estimate their costs.