§ Mr. BurtTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what capital allocations he is making available to charging authorities in England in 1989–90 for the capital costs of preparing for the community charge.
§ Mr. GummerMy right hon. Friend announced on 21 October that capital allocations totalling £135 million will be made for the capital costs in 1989–90 of preparing for the community charge. This level of allocations derives from the forecast made by Price Waterhouse in its independent report on costs.
Letters have today been sent to each charging authority in England informing them of their individual allocations. A list of these allocations has been placed in the Library. The allocations have been made to charging authorities on a basis which reflects the number and relative mobility of charge payers in each area.
Now that these allocations have been made and charging authorities know the resources they have for 1989–90 they have no excuse for not getting on with the job of implementing the community charge.