HC Deb 11 November 1991 vol 198 cc392-3W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent there is non-payment of the community charge in the current year; and what support he is giving to recover the unpaid community charge.

Mr. Key

At the end of June community charge receipts in England averaged 12 per cent. of local authorities' budgeted charge income. This figure was however affected by delays in issuing community charge bills due to the general reduction of £140 in headline charges announced in the Budget and it is not possible to draw conclusions about overall collection for the year. We will be publishing information on the second quarter of the year shortly.

The Government strongly support local authorities' efforts to collect the community charge. We have given them wide ranging collection powers and if these are used to the full authorities should be able to collect the charge from those people who have not paid.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will immediately review community charge benefit regulation No. 89 in order that full time married students can receive poll tax relief without affecting the spouse's claim.

Miss Widdecombe

I have been asked to reply.

Regulation 89 of the Social Security Community Charge Benefits (General) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/1321) provides for excess benefits that have arisen where claimants have not declared all of their capital assets. We are not aware that this regulation has caused any difficulties in particular in relation to full-time married students.

Non-student partners of registered students can claim community charge benefit, while the student is entitled to relief and only pays 20 per cent. of the charge. The benefit awarded to the non-student partner takes account of the couple's joint circumstances.