HC Deb 20 December 1989 vol 164 cc283-4W
32. Mr. Andrew Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of those liable to pay domestic rates had not paid their rates by December 1988; and what percentage of those eligible to pay the community charge have not now done so.

52. Mr. Andrew MacKay

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of those liable to pay domestic rates had not paid their rates by December 1988; and what percentage of those eligible to pay the community charge have not now done so.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Comparison between the collection of the community charge and domestic rates cannot be precise because of significant differences in the administration of the two systems. The general flow of income from community charges does not appear very different from the flow from domestic rates, when allowance is made for these differences, including the much larger number of people liable for the community charge.

Mr. Douglas

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost to local authorities and central Government of the collection of(a) domestic rates and (b) the poll tax for 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The costs to local authorities of the collection of rates in 1987–88 was £12.1 million and in 1988–89, £17.3 million. No separate figures are held centrally on the collection costs for domestic rates only. The cost to local authorities of collecting the community charge in 1989–90 is estimated by authorities at £31.8 million. This figure includes the cost of registration work, but excludes the costs of operating the rebate scheme. For 1987–88 and 1988–89 no separately identified figures are available for any preparatory costs authorities may have incurred in respect of the collection of the community charge.

There are no direct costs falling on central Government for the collection of either domestic rates or the community charge, although provision was made for such costs falling on authorities in the RSG settlements for the years concerned.

74. Mr. Steel

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance has been issued on the collection of the community charge debts through arrestment orders.

Mr. Rifkind

None. It is for local authorities to decide the most effective means of collecting arrears. Authorities will be familiar with the debt collection procedures available to them since they are broadly the same as were available under domestic rates.

59. Mr. Douglas

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place a copy of the speech on the poll tax which he made in Glasgow on 4 December in the Library.

Mr. Rifkind

I made no speech in Glasgow on 4 December. In my speech to the Edinburgh city business club on 4 December I referred to a number of aspects of the community charge as well as to a number of other matters. There is no copy of that speech. I will, however, send the hon. Member a copy of the press release which reported my main comments on the community charge.

57. Mr. Knapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hon. Members have made representations to him regarding non-payment of the community charge.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of such representations.

54. Mr. Canavan

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the number of people who are in arrears with their poll tax payments.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Information about the number of people in arrears is not available for Scotland as a whole. Figures for the number of people who have made some community charge payments vary from region to region but are typically in the range of 85 per cent. to 95 per cent. of chargepayers, with a figure of 98 per cent. in one area.

39. Mr. Neil Hamilton

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many summary warrants were granted in respect of rate arrears for the financial year 1988–89; and how may summary warrants have been granted in respect of community charge arrears.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The number of summary warrants granted for rate arrears in calendar year 1988 was 468. A warrant may apply to a number of debtors. The figures for calendar year 1989 for rates and community charge arrears will be available in 1990.

35. Mr. Baldry

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what effect non-payment of the community charge will have on the level of the community charge for the next financial year.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Local authorities made allowances, in setting their community charges for 1989–90, for non-payment by a small percentage of persons liable to the charge. I do not have any reason to suppose that these allowances will be exceeded and, therefore, no reason to suppose that there will be any effect on community charges for 1990–91.