HC Deb 11 March 1991 vol 187 cc371-2W
Mr. Maxton

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he expects to save from community charge benefit in Scotland as a result of the introduction of the community charge reduction scheme.

Mr. Mellor

Some £15 million.

Mr. Dover

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if community charge reductions operative from 1 April will be taken into account in the calculation of future retail prices indices.

Mr. Maples

Yes.

Mr. Favell

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the reduction in the retail prices index, if the community charge were abolished and the expenditure transferred to the central Exchequer.

Mr. Maples

It is not the practice to provide estimates of the effects on the retail prices index of such hypothetical changes to the public finances. The effects would depend on how the expenditure currently financed by the community charge would subsequently be funded and how the Central Statistical Office would treat the abolition of the community charge in the RPI.