§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the community charge would be in the current year in each local government area if local authorities were required to raise 20 per cent. of their costs from community charge payers.
§ Mr. KeyAfter taking into account community charge benefit, the community charge reduction scheme, and the income support element relating to community charges, the average community charge actually paid in England for 1991–92 is estimated to be £172. The income from this charge represents 15 per cent. of English local authorities' budgeted gross revenue expenditure.
If the proportion of income from community charges were to rise to 20 per cent., the average community charge for 1991–92 actually paid in England would increase to £229.
Average charges for individual areas are not available on this basis.
§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the total administrative costs of the(a) community charge and (b) proposed council tax.
§ Mr. KeyLocal authorities in England have budgeted to spend £489 million on community charge collection in 1991–92. I would expect the council tax to cost no more than half that amount to collect.