Council Tax (Hansard, 18 January 1993)

§ Dr. Spink
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he is making of the percentage levels of collection by local authorities of the council tax in its first year.

§ Mr. Robin Squire
The council tax should be significantly easier to collect than the community charge, though community charge collection levels have improved in 1992–93 with authorities collecting on average 50 per cent. of their budgeted yield by the end of September. We shall be monitoring collection of the council tax in 1993–94.

§ Mr. Steinberg
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances tenants under the age of 18 years in council properties and living alone are required to pay council tax.

§ Mr. Robin Squire
Where all the people living in a council property are under 18, the local authority will be liable for the council tax, subject to a discount of 50 per cent.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many A band council tax valued properties have been identified for each local authority in England.

§ Mr. Robin Squire
I am arranging for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House.