HL Deb 22 June 1988 vol 498 cc911-2WA
Lord McIntosh of Haringey

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the local authority associations will be consulted on the draft paper on best practice concerning the collection of the community charge and related matters which is to be produced by the Department of Environment.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)

Yes.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what dates draft material has been received by the Department of the Environment from Price Waterhouse as part of a study concerning the cost of collection of the community charge and related matters; and

Whether the Department of the Environment expects to receive this week the first part of the final report from Price Waterhouse on the cost of collection of the community charge and related matters; and

Whether the Department of the Environment expects to receive in the week beginning 20th June 1988, the second part of the final report from Price Waterhouse covering the cost of collection of the community charge and related matters.

The Earl of Caithness

In accordance with the terms of reference and, as is normal practice between consultants and their clients, drafts of this report were received during May by officials in my department. We have now also received the final report.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they plan to announce provision for local authority capital and current expenditure in 1988–89 and 1989–90 for the costs of collection of community charge; and whether this will be before the Report stage of the Local Government Finance Bill; and

When they expect to publish the final report by Price Waterhouse concerning the cost of collection of the community charge and related matters; and whether this will be before the Report stage of the Local Government Finance Bill.

The Earl of Caithness

We hope to make the Price Waterhouse report available before the Report stage of the Local Government Finance Bill. Provision for local authority capital and current expenditure in 1988–89, including additional capital allocations for the costs of collection of the community charge, have already been announced. We are considering provision for 1989–90 in the Public Expenditure Survey.