§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the reasons for the discrepancy between the number of community charge payers of 41,900,000 registered for 1990 in England, Scotland and Wales and the Government's estimated size of the population aged 18 years and over of the same countries of 43,160,000.
§ Mr. KeyThe difference of 1,260,000 between the number of people shown on community charges registers in Great Britain and the estimated population aged 18 years and over is largely attributable to the number of exempt people. We estimate that at least 870,000 people are exempt from the personal community charge, not 341W including those who are exempt by virtue of living in short stay accommodation or because they have no fixed abode, for which no reliable information is available. Other factors affecting the comparison are: errors in the registers or under-registration; errors in reporting the numbers on the registers; errors in estimates of the adult population, which are based on the 1981 population census; and to a limited extent differences in timing and definition. It is not possible to quantify any of these factors.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing, for each local authority levying a community charge in England and Wales, the sum shown in their respective demand statements following the words "plus other adjustments", stating the nature of all elements or charges comprising such adjustments together with his, or other estimate, of the proportion of the global sum attributable to the additional shortfall of income for the year 1990–91 and projected shortfall for 1991–92, respectively.
§ Mr. Key[holding answer 20 June 1991]: I am arranging for the available information for England to be placed in the Library of the House. Information for Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.