§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a breakdown of both the numbers and the average liability of(a) one parent families, (b) two parent families, (c) single pensioners and (d) couple pensioners who will pay the community charge, broken down into (i) regions and (ii) local authority areas.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 15 December 1988]: The table shows domestic rates and community charges net of rebate in pounds per week, broken down into regions. The figures are based on data contained in the family expenditure survey and the illustrative community charges published on 23 June 1988. Analyses of individual local authority areas are not possible because of the limitations of the survey data.
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Northern Yorkshire and Humberside North West East Midlands West Midlands East Anglia Greater London South East South West England Community charge (£) 2.52 2.43 2.26 2.17 2.01 1.98 3.21 2.46 2.25 2.41 Number (000's) 340 480 610 330 420 200 505 745 395 4,025 (d) Pensioner couples3 Rates (£) 5.97 5.48 6.58 6.47 7.12 5.54 7.38 8.93 6.69 7.01 Community charge (£) 6.75 6.26 6.14 5.89 5.54 4.78 7.71 6.36 5.84 6.26 Number (000's) 165 275 265 190 225 95 245 465 200 2,130 1 Single adults with dependent children. 2 Married couples with dependent children. 3 Married couples where husband is 65 or over.
§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish up-to-date poll tax figures to replace tables in Cmnd. 9714, "Paying for Local Government."
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 19 December 1988]: The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax but I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 15 December at columns 725-6 to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Couchman) concerning the community charge.