HC Deb 17 June 1992 vol 209 cc562-3W
34. Mr. Canavan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost to date of introducing, administering and collecting the poll tax, including the cost of Government-initiated relief schemes.

Mr. Robin Squire

The cost of preparing for administering and collecting the community charge in England up to 1 April 1992 has been about £1.2 billion. Government relief schemes have reduced the burden of local domestic taxation to 15 per cent. of local government spending and have not added to overall public expenditure.