§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his estimate of the number of canvassers required for house visits in Lothian region in order to collect the information required for the proposed community charge;
97W(2) what is his estimate of the costs of collection in Lothian region of the community charge from fully rebated persons;
(3) what estimate he has made of the cost in Lothian region of updating the proposed community charge register each month;
(4) what is his estimate of the cost of a postal canvass in Lothian region of all persons above 18 years of age to establish and register for the proposed community charge.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sanctions he proposes against any individual over 18 years of age who fails to notify the authority applying a community charge of a change of abode.
§ Mr. LangThe arrangements for the imposition of civil penalties in these circumstances are set out in section 18 of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc (Scotland) Act 1987.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to reimburse Lothian region for the salaries of the extra staff needed to implement his community charge proposals in Lothian region.
§ Mr. LangThe costs to be incurred by local authorities in implementing the community charge will be taken into account when determining provision for relevant expenditure and aggregate exchequer grant for 1988–89. The distribution of provision and grant amongst local authorities is based upon the client group approach to assessment of relative expenditure need, which is developed in consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.