§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will show the percentage change from the anticipated levels of community charge published on 23 June for each authority in England and Wales for 1988–89 as a result of the implementation of reforms to housing finance proposed in the consultation paper, "A New Regime for Local Authority Housing in England and Wales".
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 19 October 1988]: Because of the inevitable uncertainties entailed in predicting the detailed effects at the local level of possible changes to the powers of local authorities and other changes, our practice is to publish figures based on current responsibilities and expenditure patterns.
My right hon. Friend gave details of 1987–88 contributions from the housing revenue account to the general rate fund in response to a question from the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 22 October 1987 at column 863.
§ Dr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to prevent commercial agencies from setting up national databases for keeping track of community charge payers.
§ Mr. RidleyThe rules governing the use of information to compile and maintain community charges registers, including the sources from which such information can be requested, will be tightly controlled in regulations to be made under schedule 2 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988. Any agency offering to provide such information would also need to bear in mind the implications of the Data Protection Act 1984.
§ Dr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with agencies dealing with the homeless about the designation of hostels for collective community charge.
§ Mr. RidleyFollowing discussions with such agencies, we have provided in the Local Government Finance Act 1988 that the residents of certain hostels will be exempt from the community charge. We intend to consult interested bodies shortly on our detailed proposals for identifying such hostels.
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§ Dr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish advice to local authorities on the enforcement of joint and several liability for community charge.
§ Mr. RidleyI hope to do so shortly. Discussions are being held with representatives of the local authority associations with a view to publishing a joint practice note on this subject.
§ Dr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discretion local authorities will have in the enforcement of joint and several liability for community charge against deserted spouses.
§ Mr. RidleyWhere a community charge remains unpaid, and a couple have separated, local authorities will be able to take enforcement action against one or other, or both spouses, as appropriate.