HC Deb 11 April 1989 vol 150 c454W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response has he received from Nottingham city council to his request for a progress report on implementing the community charge; if he will publish that response; and whether he has received any request for a future survey of costs incurred by the council in implementing the poll tax.

Mr. Gummer

We have received a progress report dated 26 January from the Nottingham city treasurer. As requested, it outlines the council's plans for staffing, accommodation, computing, etc. On the question of publication, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr Cunningham) on 23 January 1989 at column459.

The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the reasons for publishing community charge practice note No. 16 on joint and several liability before community charge practice note 15 on enforcement; when practice note 15 will be published; and what are the reasons for the delay.

Mr. Ridley

Practice notes are prepared jointly by the Government and the local authority associations. They are published as they become ready, and no reason was seen to delay the note on joint and several liability, which was numbered 16 on our provisional schedule, simply because No. 15 was not yet ready. Discussions on the practice note on enforcement are taking place in the normal way, and it will be published once these are complete.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the remainder of the leaflets listed in the booklet entitled "You and the Community Charge", dealing with(a) the rebate scheme, (b) students and the community charge, (c) the community charge and second homes, (d) the collective community charge, (e) the appeal system and (f) the business rate, are to be made available.

Mr. Gummer

[holding answer 10 April 1989]: These are all in preparation and will be published variously over the next few weeks.