§ Mr. StevensonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those local authorities that exceeded the council tax increase guideline set under the Council Tax Benefit subsidy limitation scheme in 1999–2000; what amount of subsidy is to be withdrawn from these local authorities in an individual basis; and on what date any withdrawal of subsidy will take effect. [111236]
§ Ms Beverley HughesContributions to the cost of council tax benefit are required by 156 authorities in 1999–2000. Their contributions total £31.222 million. I have placed a table showing the individual figures for the 156 authorities in the Library.
Council tax benefit subsidy is paid in 12 monthly instalments during the year based on estimates submitted by the authority before the start of the financial year, and adjusted at mid year when authorities submit updated estimates. At the end of the financial year authorities submit final subsidy claims to DSS on actual expenditure when adjustments are made against previous estimates. The first subsidy instalments taking account of local contributions under the council tax benefit subsidy limitation scheme were made in October 1999 after authorities had submitted mid year estimates based on their contribution to council tax benefit.