§ 50. Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's projection of likely poll tax rates in the Carrick district council and Restormel borough council areas, on the basis of the 1988–89 rates year.
§ Mr. HowardI hope to publish illustrative community charges for each local authority area shortly.
483W
§ Mr. PatnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department intends to provide to local authorities about the implementation of the community charge.
§ Mr. HowardIn 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 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 Libraries of the House.