§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many community charge payers in Lambeth were in receipt of community charge benefit at the last period for which figures are available to his Department based on claims for refunds.
§ Miss WiddecombeI refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 14 February 1991 at column578.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of persons in each local authority area in Scotland in receipt of(a) full rebate of 80 per cent. of their community charge and (b) exemption from payment of 80 per cent. of their community charge.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information is as follows:
Regional councils Persons in receipt of maximum 80 per cent, community charge benefit with income support as at November 1990 Persons exempt from payment of the community charge as at July 1990 Borders 5,000 410 Central 22,000 4,080 Dumfries and Galloway 10,000 800 Fife 26,000 1,760 Grampian 24,000 3,400 Highland 11,000 780 Lothian 35,000 4,400 Strathclyde 274,000 35,110 Tayside 30,000 2,060 Orkney 1,000 320 Shetland 11,000 260 Western Isles 4,000 140 Total Scotland 443,000 53,520 1 Estimated. In addition to the above exemptions there were, in July 1990, 99,460 students in Scotland who were liable to pay only 20 per cent. of the full community charge.
The number of people receiving maximum community charge benefit is slightly underestimated because a small number of people not in receipt of income support also receive the maximum benefit.