HC Deb 25 January 1989 vol 145 cc631-2W
22. Mr. Franks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he has taken to assist local authorities with the implementation of the community charge.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Government are working closely with local authorities to ensure that they are fully prepared to implement the community charge in April 1990, in terms both of advice and resources. We are also helping local authorities by ensuring that the public are fully informed about the community charge.

23. Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest available estimate for the levels of community charges in Norfolk after April 1990.

Mr. Ridley

The illustrative figures for Norfolk, based on 1988–89 expenditure, are in the range £173 to £206 with no safety net and £178 to £215 with the full safety net.

30. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what a typical ward sister would pay(a) in rates, (b) in community charge and (c) in a system of capital value rates plus local income tax paid in the proportions of 80:20, respectively, if she lived in a typical one-bedroom flat in Ealing.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

A ward sister earning £15,000, living in a flat in Ealing worth £70,000 and with a rateable value of £300, would pay a rates bill of £537, a community charge of £234 (disregarding the transitional safety net), and £695 under a system of capital value rates plus local income tax.

33. Mr. Bowis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the cost to the average household in London of a system of local government finance based on(a) the community charge and (b) a local income tax combined with a local domestic rate based on capital values of property.

Mr. Gummer

Illustrative figures, published on 23 June 1988, show that the average household in London would be considerably worse off under a system of local income tax combined with capital value rates than with the community charge.

56. Mr. Rooker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to change the date at which registration for the poll tax will begin in England.

Mr. Gummer

The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. We intend that the regulations enabling community charges registration officers to request information from members of the public will come into force on 22 May.

110. Mr. Wood

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of local authorities in preparing for the introduction of the community charge.

Mr. Gummer

Many local authorities are clearly making good progress in preparing for the introduction of the community charge. I intend to monitor progress carefully in the months ahead.