§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
What guidance they intend to provide to local authorities about the implementation of the community charge.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)In November 1987 the Department of the Environment set up an Implementation Sub Group of the Community Charge Working Group to discuss issues arising from the implementation of the community charge. The group comprises officials of the Department of the Environment, the Department of Health and Social Security and the Welsh Office, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the Association of District Councils, the Association of County Councils, the London Boroughs Association and the Association of London Authorities.
One of the group's remits is to provide advice to local authority practitioners about matters such as registration for, billing, collection and recovery of the community charge and community charge benefits. It is proposed to do this by means of a series of practice 420WA notes covering all aspects of implementation, The first of these notes, entitled An Introduction to the Community Charge, is being published today and will be sent to local authorities and those other interested bodies who have asked to receive copies. Copies have also been placed in the Library of the House.