HC Deb 12 May 1988 vol 133 cc199-200W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the clearing banks concerning their ability to cope with transactions expected under the poll tax.

Mr. Howard

My officials have met representatives of the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) to discuss the implications of community charge collection for money transaction systems. Representatives of APACS will attend the next meeting of the implementation sub-group of the community charge working group, which comprises officials of the Department of the Environment, the Welsh Office, DHSS and the local authority associations, to discuss the practical issues arising from the introduction of the community charge.

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that persons required to complete the poll tax registration form are given 21 days in which to do so.

Mr. Howard

Regulations will provide that persons requested to supply information to community charge registration officers must do so within 21 days of the request.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the average rate paid by a domestic ratepayer in each English district in 1988–89, together with his estimate as to the community charge per payer in 1988–89 had the proposed system been in operation.

Mr. Howard

[holding answer 10 May 1988]I hope to be able to publish these figures shortly.

Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 3 May,Official Report, column 389, whether he will grant additional capital allocations to those authorities which need to lease office accommodation for staff for poll tax, in addition to the £25 million already allocated, in the event of such leases counting as prescribed expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ridley

[holding answer 11 May 1988]I shall consider what additional capital allocations may be appropriate in the light of the findings from the Price Waterhouse report on the cost of the community charge, when I receive it.