§ 16. Mr. Greg KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made towards the implementation of the community charge in Scotland.
§ Mr. LangArrangements for the introduction of the community charge in April next year are proceeding well. All the necessary regulations are now in place or will shortly be in place. Registration officers and levying authorities are making good progress in discharging their responsibilities.
§ 19. Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proposed combined region and district contribution which community charge payers living in Caithness district and in Sutherland district will be expected to make to the revenue support grant safety net.
§ Mr. LangWithout the safety net, revenue support grant per adult would be £12 or 1.5 per cent. higher for Caithness and £45 or 5.5 per cent. higher for Sutherland. Even allowing for this, grant for next year, taking into account also the grant for Highland region, is being increased by £74 or 10.5 per cent. per adult in Caithness and by £95 or 13.3 per cent. per adult in Sutherland.
§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the number of second homes liable for the standard community charge.
§ Mr. LangIt is estimated that as at 30 June 1986 there were 19,446 second homes in Scotland. This figure is derived from information supplied by local authorities.
§ 43. Mr. Ron BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from the Scottish Trades Union Congress regarding the community charge; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangMy right hon. and learned Friend has had no recent representations from the Scottish Trades Union Congress on the community charge.
57. Mr. Andy StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what he estimates will be the average level of community charge in Scotland in 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, West (Mr. Douglas).
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§ 60. Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the annual cost of collection of the poll tax in Scotland; and what is the current equivalent cost of collection of rates.
§ Mr. LangThe estimated cost of administering the community charge and non-domestic rating in 1989–90 is £44 million. The cost of administering the rating system in the current year is estimated at £26 million.
§ 65. Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made towards the implementation of the community charge in Scotland.
§ Mr. LangArrangements for the introduction of the community charge in April next year are proceeding well. All the necessary regulations are now in place or will shortly be in place. Registration officers and levying authorities are making good progress in discharging their responsibilities.