HC Deb 14 December 1988 vol 143 cc615-7W
37. Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the poll tax which will be levied in Nottingham.

Mr. Gummer

The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. I wrote to the hon. Member on 6 December about the level of the community charge in Nottingham.

The Government have made no estimates of community charges. We published on 23 June illustrative figures showing what the community charge would have been in each area, had the new system been in force in 1988–89. Those illustrative figures assume existing levels of spending and existing local authority responsibilities. On that basis, the personal community charge in Nottingham would have been £251. Under the Government's safety net proposals this figure would have been reduced to £231 in the first year of the new system.

40. Mr. McLoughlin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by local authorities in preparing for the introduction of the community charge in England.

Mr. Gummer

Many local authorities are clearly making good progress in preparing for the introduction of the community charge. I intend to monitor progress carefully in the months ahead.

51. Mr. Bowis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on any campaign to refuse to pay the community charge.

Mr. Gummer

I am aware that a number of individuals have said that they do not intend to pay the community charge. Such action would, of course, be both unlawful and futile.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the average national community charge; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

The Government have made no estimates of community charges. We published on 23 June illustrative figures showing what the community charge would have been in each area, had the new system been in force in 1988–89. Those illustrative figures assume existing levels of spending and existing local authority responsibilities. On that basis, the average personal community charge in England would have been £246.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the standard rate of income tax would need to be raised if the expected amount of revenue generated by the poll tax were to be raised through income tax.

Mr. Gummer

On 23 June the Government published illustrative community charge figures, based on local authority spending in 1988–89; copies are in the Library. Those figures also showed the rate of local income tax that would be needed to raise the same revenue. The average increase in income tax rates across England would be 6.4p.

Mr. Couchman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he is making to ensure that the public are informed of the way in which the new community charge system will operate.

Mr. Gummer

The Department of the Environment published yesterday a new booklet giving up-to-date information on the new community charge system which will be introduced in April 1990. It is available free on request. The Department will also be publishing shortly seven supplementary leaflets, giving more detailed information on particular aspects of the system, for example, on exemptions and appeals. These, too, will be available free on request. Copies have been placed in the Library. The total cost of producing the booklet and leaflets is estimated at £80,000.

We shall also send a leaflet to all households in England next May to coincide with canvassing by local authorities to prepare the register of those liable to pay the community charge. The leaflet will help people to understand the purpose of the canvass and what they need to do. We estimate that the cost of producing and distributing it would be of the order of £980,000.

Since May this year we have issued, jointly with local authority associations, a series of practice notes to individual local authorities and interested organisations dealing with the practical and technical details of the new system. Nine practice notes have so far been published at a cost of £9,000. Twelve more are in preparation. One of the practice notes contained a model canvass form with associated information notes. We are arranging to have the form and notes translated into five minority languages for use by local authorities where appropriate.

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the draft regulations at present being prepared on enforcement of poll tax payments, he will amend the relevant regulations that currently apply in Scotland.

Mr. Gummer

[holding answer 12 December 1988]: No. My right hon. Friend's regulation-making powers in respect of enforcement in the Local Government Finance Act 1988 do not extend to the amendment of Scottish legislation on enforcement of the community charge.