§ Mr. WarrenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department is making arrangements to assist county and district councils in the introduction of the community charge by the preparation of a standard 491W computer software package, and if his Department will take action to co-ordinate the use of councils' existing hardware systems to reduce the cost of the introduction of the community charge; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardIt is for authorities to decide on the computer software they need to administer the community charge. My Department will be issuing practice notes on the community charge which will provide charging authorities and the computing industry with the details they need to design the software required. In addition, the independent firm of Price Waterhouse will be providing a summary of best practices which, if followed by local authorities, should help to reduce their costs.