§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what basis the adult population of Lambeth is calculated to be 172,411 for poll tax reduction grant instead of Lambeth council's estimated population of 181,000; and what difference the lower figure makes to the reduction given to Lambeth overall and on individual terms.
§ Mr. PortilloInstalments of community charge grant, which compensates authorities for the £140 general reduction in community charges in 1991–92, are currently based on the amount which each council had budgeted to collect in community charges for the year. After the year end further payments will be made to bring the total amount of grant up to 100 per cent. of the actual income forgone. Actual population is incidental to these calculations.
§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many queries have been raised about the correctness of assessments of domestic properties since 1 April 1990 following the change of domestic rates after the introduction of poll tax; and what action he proposes to take to deal with the question of identically built and serviced properties erected prior to 1 April 1990 whose owners are now in dispute over incorrect assessments and which cannot be reviewed retrospectively by the district valuation offices.
§ Mr. PortilloInformation on queries to local valuation offices about 1973 valuation list entries is not kept278W centrally. We do not propose to re-open the right to appeal against the assessments of domestic properties for general rates. All ratepayers had full rights to challenge their rateable values during the life of the previous system.