§ Mr. Michael Spicerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the average annual payment per head by individuals not in receipt of rebates if the present rating system were replaced by a poll tax accompanied by a means-tested rebate scheme, which ensured that no individual at present receiving a rate rebate paid more than under the present rating system, assuming the levels of local government expenditure and rate support grant are unchanged.
§ Mr. KingIn 1979–80 domestic rates raised about £2.7 billions in Great Britain. If a poll tax on all adults were to raise the same total revenue, an average payment of about £90 a year would be required from each individual not in receipt of a rebate, assuming that under a poll tax the same proportion of people receiving rate rebate might receive a poll tax rebate.