§ 24. Mr. RiddickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of people who will benefit from the community charge reduction scheme(a) nationally and (b) in the area covered by Kirklees council.
§ Mr. KeyOur recent announcement means that every charge payer will first benefit from a cut in their bill of £140 after which community charge reductions and benefit are calculated. Our estimate of the number of people in England who will both get a £140 general reduction and a rates-related reduction is 8.2 million. Figures on the number of charge-payers in each area who will benefit from the community charge reduction scheme will be available once charging authorities have returned their grant claim forms to my Department.
§ 25. Mr. Andrew MacKayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the workings of the community charge reduction scheme in relation to properties which were not individually rated.
§ Mr. KeyFor practical reasons the community charge reduction scheme works by reference to the formerly rateable property and if a considerable number of people occupy the property, they receive little or no relief. However, such charge payers will all benefit from the 140 general reduction announced last week.
§ 26. Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to abolish the community charge by April 1992; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloI refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Haynes).