HC Deb 05 March 1990 vol 168 cc411-2W
Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he intends to publish amended versions of Department of the Environment pamphlets on community charge reductions and the uniform business rate in Wales.

Mr. Peter Walker

No. Welsh Office leaflets on community charge benefit were distributed to all households in Wales late in 1989. There is no need to produce a separate publicity leaflet on community charge transitional relief, because the Welsh scheme does not require applications to be made in order that relief can be awarded. On business rates, I have made available since March 1989 a pamphlet, "The New Business Rating System in Wales". This has been regularly updated. The latest revision, dated January 1990, is in the Library. Copies have been made available through Welsh business organisations, district valuation offices and from the Welsh Office in response to enquiries.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) part-time and (b) full-time staff have been brought in to each district, borough and city council in Wales to deal specifically with the community charge or poll tax.

Mr. Peter Walker

The information requested is not held centrally.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much extra expenditure has been incurred by each district, borough and city council in Wales on(a) the adaptation of current information systems and (b) purchasing of new technology, as a direct result of implementing the poll tax.

Mr. Peter Walker

The current and capital expenditure incurred by each district council in Wales on the implementation costs of the community charge in 1989–90 are shown in the table:

Community charge preparation costs 1989–90
Local authority Current budget £000 Capital forecast £000
Alyn and Deeside 328 173
Colwyn 124 149
Delyn 203 0
Glyndwr 168 0
Rhuddlan 207 274
Wrexham Maelor 377 724
Carmarthen 184 0
Ceredigion 307 112
Dinefwr 182 188
Llanelli 176 0
Preseli Pembrokeshire 317 193
South Pembrokeshire 138 76
Blaenau Gwent 305 100
Islwyn 213 169
Monmouth 167 166
Newport 355 425
Torfaen 290 198
Aberconwy 193 215
Arfon 310 0
Dwyfor 194 142
Meirionnydd 282 670
Ynys Môn 176 274
Cynon Valley 103 928
Merthyr Tydfil 256 844
Ogwr 642 0
Rhondda 196 30
Rhymney Valley 381 580
Taff Ely 433 414
Brecknock 173 0
Montgomeryshire 237 63
Radnorshire 95 40
Cardiff 1,090 953
Vale of Glamorgan 392 150
Port Talbot 189 50
Lliw Valley 239 0
Neath 218 142
Swansea 934 630
Total Wales 10,774 9,072