§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the estimated 1987–88 total annual receipts for rates net of rebates in England and Wales; and what percentage this represents of forecast local government expenditure for 1987–88.
§ Mr. HowardLocal authorities' income from domestic and non-domestic ratepayers, net of rebates, in England and Wales in 1987–88 is estimated at £15 billion. This represents 48 per cent. of estimated local government expenditure (defined as local authority net revenue expenditure for RSG purposes).
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place with the 382W National Association of Parish Councils on the impact of the proposed community charge; and what was the outcome.
§ Mr. HowardOfficials from the Department of the Environment met representatives of the National Association of Local Councils on 5 November 1986 to discuss these issues. NALC wrote to my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Sir R. Boyson) in February requesting a meeting to which he agreed; I understand that NALC intend to take up that invitation in due course. I shall of course be happy to honour my predecessor's commitment.
§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many women he estimates will become liable to pay the proposed community charge, despite having no personal income.
§ Mr. HowardNo firm figures are available. However data from the family expenditure survey suggests that there may be about 2.9 million women over the age of 18 with no regular personal income from employment, investment or state benefits (excluding child benefit). Almost all of these are wives not in paid employment.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil servants in all Departments are currently involved in preparation for the implementation of the poll tax.
§ Mr. HowardTwenty-one staff in the Department of the Environment, 10 in the Scottish Office and three in the Welsh Office are engaged full time on all aspects of the reform of local government finance. A further 21 staff in the Department of the Environment and 36 staff in other central Departments are involved, as part of their other duties, in contributing to this work.
§ Mr. Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on how the proposed unified business rate and the community charge will affect landlords; and whether they will be required to collect the community charge from their tenants.
§ Mr. HowardWhen the new system of local government finance is in operation, landlords will no longer pay rates in respect of the residential property occupied by their tenants. Adult tenants will pay the community charge, in the same way as other adults.
In the minority of multi-occupied properties, where it would be impractical to register tenants individually for the community charge, local authorities will be able to apply a collective community charge. This will be paid to the local authority by the landlord, who will recover contributions from each adult tenant.
§ Mr. Fatchettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will assess the likely cost to Leeds city council of collecting a community charge as opposed to domestic rates; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Howard[pursuant to his reply, 10 July 1987] Our preliminary estimate is that the cost of collecting the community charge may be, broadly, up to twice the cost of collecting domestic rates. However, the cost to an individual local authority will largely depend on how far it is successful in reducing unit costs. We estimate that almost twice as many people will pay the community charge as pay domestic rates.
383W
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning special provision under the community charge for ministers of religion.
§ Mr. Howard[pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1987, c. 561]: My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about special provision under the community charge for ministers of religion. These include representations from the Churches Main Committee and several diocesan secretaries.
384W
Inner area programme 1987–88 Authority 1Provisional inner area programme allocation Bid received Date of approval £ million £ million Birmingham 25.0 28.7 13 April 1987 Hackney 10.8 13.9 Islington 10.0 17.6 Lambeth 12.8 20.8 31 March 1987 Liverpool 20.0 29.8 Manchester/Salford 23.8 37.7 Newcastle/Gatcshead 17.2 20.3 31 March 1987 Barnsley 1.5 1.9 12 May 1987 Blackburn 4.0 4.1 7 April 1987 Bolton 4.0 5.2 30 March 1987 Bradford 4.5 5.5 Brent 4.0 6.4 Bristol 1.5 1.5 27 March 1987 Burnley 1.0 1.5 9 July 1987 Coventry 5.0 6.0 16 April 1987 Derby 1.3 1.5 23 March 1987 Doncaster 1.8 2.7 Dudley 1.3 2.0 Greenwich 1.5 1.5 9 July 1987 Halton 1.3 1.8 6 April 1987 Hammersmith and Fulham 5.0 7.9 9 July 1987 Haringey 2.0 3.2 10 April 1987 Hartlepool 1.8 2.0 9 July 1987 Kensington and Chelsea 1.3 1.2 29 April 1987 Kingston-upon-Hull 5.0 6.2 Kirklees 0.8 1.3 Knowsley 4.0 4.9 16 March 1987 Langbaurgh 1.8 2.6 9 July 1987 Leeds 4.5 5.2 Leicester 5.4 9.4 Lewisham 1.5 1.5 22 April 1987 Middlesbrough 5.5 8.1 9 July 1987 Newham 1.8 2.2 9 July 1987 North Tyneside 3.5 5.7 9 July 1987 Nottingham 5.5 7.8 9 July 1987 Oldham 4.0 4.4 Plymouth 0.4 2— Preston 1.3 1.7 8 April 1987 Rochdale 4.0 5.4 9 July 1987 Rotherham 1.8 2.6 St. Helens 1.5 2.0 Sandwell 5.0 6.0 6 April 1987 Sefton 1.5 1.3 13 April 1987 Sheffield 5.5 7.3 South Tyneside 4.5 4.8 30 April 1987 South wark 1.8 3.5 30 March 1987 Stockton 1.3 1.4 Sunderland 4.0 5.2 9 July 1987 The Wrekin 0.4 0.8 9 July 1987 Tower Hamlets 4.5 9.1 Walsall 1.5 2.1 16 April 1987 Wandsworth 4.5 6.5 9 July 1987 Wigan 1.5 1.5 11 March 1987 Wirral 3.5 5.0 9 July 1987 Wolverhampton 5.5 7.0 16 April 1987 1 Announced by Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction on 30 January 1987 (Official Report, Vol. 109, column 457). 2 IAP yet to be submitted.