HC Deb 26 May 1988 vol 134 cc304-5W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether community charge officers will be able to ask for information concerning an individual from gas, water and electricity boards; and whether those boards could exchange information about individuals to the community charge officer.

Mr. Howard

No. The powers of community charge registration officers to request information are set out in schedule 2 to the Local Government Finance Bill. They do not include power to request information from the bodies mentioned. Nor will registration officers have any power to pass information to those bodies.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why Price Waterhouse was chosen to carry out a study concerning the costs of implementing the community charge; how many companies tendered for the study; and why the actual cost of implementing the community charge in Scotland was not used as a basis for a reliable estimate as to the likely true cost of introducing the legislation in England and Wales.

Mr. Howard

The actual cost of preparing for and implementing rates reform in Scotland will not be known until after April 1989. Our estimates of these costs in England and Wales have been questioned by local authority associations and some individual authorities have made their own forecasts. Price Waterhouse was selected to undertake an independent study of these costs after we had examined tenders and written proposals from six firms of consultants.

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why, pursuant to the answer of 16 May, the information requested relating to illustrative community charges for 1988–89 was given by reference to figures for 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Howard

Because estimates for 1988–89 are not yet available for England. I apologise for not making that clear.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from Community Service Volunteers with regard to exemption from the community charge; what reply he is sending; what action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Howard

I have received a number of such representations from various organisations. This matter was also discussed during the consideration of the Local Government Finance Bill in Committee in another place. My noble Friend the Minister of State agreed to consider the possibility of making special provision for residential voluntary workers.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what percentage of single pensioners he estimates will be adversely affected by the introduction of the community charge;

(2) what percentage of pensioners he estimates will be adversely affected by the community charge.

Mr. Howard

I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.