§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for Great Grimsby the numbers in each band qualifying for a reduction in council tax on income grounds in addition to a 25 per cent. discount.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the nature of the calculation by which he arrived at an average council tax of £496 for Grimsby; and if he will list the factors which accounted for only 24 of the 29 authorities with a higher percentage spending over standard spending assessment than Grimsby having higher estimates of tax in each band.
§ Mr. Key[holding answer 30 April 1991]: The method used to calculate the illustrative council tax bills published on 23 April is set out on the sheet covering the tables.
The main factors which determine the level of bills shown for each area are the level of spending in relation to standard spending assessment by all authorities providing services in the area; the proportion of properties in each of the seven bands; and the number of discounts assumed to be given in each area.
The exemplifications published on 23 April show over half of domestic properties in Great Grimsby falling in band A, with a bill for two or more adults of £402. Single adult households will receive a 25 per cent. reduction.