§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the impact of the proposed community charge on monastic communities whose members have no income, and whose premises include accommodation for guests, workshops, and church buildings as well as accommodation for members of the community.
§ Mr. LangIn general, accommodation in monastic communities which forms people's sole or main residence 871W will cease to be subject to rates on 1 April 1989. Other accommodation will remain subject to rates, but rate increases from that date will be pegged to the level of inflation as measured by the retail prices index. Charitable and other reliefs from the remaining rates burden will continue on the present basis. People aged 18 and over who are solely or mainly resident in monastic communities, like other adults, will carry a personal community charge liability. My right hon. and learned Friend is at present considering the position of people in this category in relation to the proposed community charge rebate scheme.
Mr. O'Neillasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish an estimate of the numbers of staff that the community charge registration officer will be required to employ in order to complete registration on the community charge register of all adults in the Clackmannan constituency.
§ Mr. Maxtonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the numbers of people in Scotland who will be totally exempt from payment of the poll tax in each of the following categories (a) those aged 18 years whose parents are still in receipt of family allowance, (b) those resident in hospitals or homes, (c) those in prisons and (d) those defined as severely mentally handicapped.
§ Mr. Lang[holdng answer 26 October 1987]: My right hon. and learned Friend has made no estimate of the numbers of people who will be exempt from community charge liability in 1989–90. At present child benefit is payable in respect of some 2,000 people aged 18 in Scotland. Figures are not available centrally on the number of people solely or mainly resident in hospitals, or in nursing homes, residential care homes and hostels providing an equivalent level of care. The number of inmates in Scottish penal establishments is about 5,500. The number of severely mentally handicapped people in Scotland is about 15,000, many of whom will be cared for in hospitals or in nursing homes, residential care homes and hostels providing an equivalent level of care.