HC Deb 31 October 1990 vol 178 cc543-4W
Mr. Robert B. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans for amendment of the regulations governing the standard community charge.

Mr. Portillo

We have now completed consultation on a number of proposed changes to the standard charge and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today announced our conclusions. These are that regulations should be brought forward broadly in line with the consultation paper "The Standard Community Charge and other Matters". We intend to make the following changes:

Maximum multiplier
New classes
Unoccupied property where person subject has sole or main residence in job-related accommodation 1½
Unoccupied property which forms a part of a composite hereditament and which is difficult to let 1

Maximum multiplier
Unoccupied property (eg "Granny" annexes) which forms a self-contained part of a domestic property in respect of which the person is subject to the personal charge and which is difficult to let separately 0
Unoccupied property where person subject is in detention 0
Unoccupied property where person subject is entitled to student relief on the personal charge 0
Unoccupied property which is vacated by a borrower and repossessed by a mortgage lender 0
Unoccupied and empty agricultural property subject to a planning restriction limiting occupation to agricultural workers ½
Amendments to existing classes
Extension to six months of period before which standard charge becomes payable on empty and unoccupied property (Class C) 0
Extension to six months after probate or letters of administration of the period before which standard charge can become payable by personal representative (Class E) 0
Removal of the limit (currently 12 months) on the period for which an unoccupied property is subject to a zero multiplier where the chargepayer is cared for in a home, hospital or any other place (Classes D, FB) 0
Removal of limit (currently 12 months) on the period for which an unoccupied property is subject to a zero multiplier where the chargepayer has gone to care for another person (Class FC) 0
1 (was 1 in consultation paper)

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend existing legislation on local government finance to ensure that parish councils receive a share of(a) community charge, (b) national non-domestic rate and (c) any other central Government funding as of right.

Mr. Key

My right hon. Friend has no plans to amend the existing legislation relating to these matters.

Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many people receiving family credit pay a full community charge.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

I have been asked to reply.

The information on family credit and community charge benefit will not become available until the results of those benefits' respective statistical surveys are ready.