HC Deb 16 May 1990 vol 172 cc430-1W
Sir John Wheeler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the estimated charge on the basis of current expenditure(a) per household and (b) per capita for each London borough if a system of local income tax were to be introduced.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the estimated charge on the basis of current expenditure(a) per household and (b) per capita for each English district if a system of local income tax were introduced.

Mr. Portillo

I have no information on which to estimate the average amount which would be payable in any area under a system of local income tax either per household or per capita. Estimated local income tax rates which could have applied in each local authority area in 1990–91 were placed in the Library on 4 April.

Sir Alan Glyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what figure was allowed for in respect of the cost of repairing the roof of Shire hall, Reading, in setting the standard spending assessment for Berkshire county council; and what assessment was made of the likely effect on the level of the community charge in Windsor and Maidenhead.

Mr. Portillo

[holding answer 18 April 1990]: No specific figure for this item of expenditure was allowed for in calculating the standard spending assessment for Berkshire county council.

The SSA includes support for the costs of capital expenditure financed from credit approvals. But at the recommendation of the Association of County Councils, credit approvals for this type of expenditure are distributed on the basis of population rather than for particular projects.

Sir Alan Glyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the effect of the use by the Royal County of Berkshire of capital reserves to fund revenue expenditure on the community charge for Windsor and Maidenhead.

Mr. Portillo

[holding answer 19 April 1990]: The precept which Berkshire county council has levied on Windsor and Maidenhead reflects the revenue which it has chosen to raise. That in turn reflects its general financial position, including the extent to which capital reserves may generate interest and the extent to which capital expenditure is being financed from revenue income.

Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 3 May to the hon. Member for Derbyshire North-East,Official Report, columns 617–18, about local government revenue, if he will list the equivalent percentage details for Wandsworth and Westminster councils.

Mr Chope

The equivalent calculation cannot be made for individual authorities because some revenues are paid to charging authorities' collection funds on behalf of charging authorities and precepting authorities. The relevant amounts paid into Wandsworth's general fund and collection fund are given in the table. Complete information is not yet available for the city of Westminster.

Amounts to be paid into Wandsworth's General Fund and Collection Fund
£000
General Fund
Specific and Supplementary grants (excluding community charge benefit and transitional relief) 34,717
Collection Fund
Government grants (including community charge benefit and transitional relief) 158,308
Business rates 60,386
Community charges (net of community charge benefit and transitional relief) 23,608