HC Deb 10 July 1989 vol 156 cc394-6W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to indicate what the average poll tax for England would be based on 1989–90 local government expenditure; and which local authorities would be above or below that figure.

Mr. Gummer

The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

Illustrative 1989–90 community charges will be published in due course.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether a community charge registration officer asking for telephone numbers on the same form as chargepayers are meant to sign certifying that the information given on the form is complete is operating within the limits of his Department's guidelines.

Mr. Gummer

A registration officer may require only such information as is necessary to enable him to compile and maintain the community charges register. In the case of the personal community charge this will usually consist of the names and addresses of adults living in a particular poperty and the dates of birth of those who will become 18 during the lifetime of the register. Information about telephone numbers need not be provided to a registration officer, and the Department's model form and guidance advise registration officers that if they seek any additional information of this kind they should make it clear that there is no obligation on individuals to provide it, and that no penalty can or will be imposed if they do not.

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that(a) merchant seamen and (b) Royal Navy seamen, who are away from shore for more than six months in a year, are treated equally in respect of liability for the poll tax.

Mr. Gummer

The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

The determination of a person's sole or main residence is a matter for community charges registration officers. I have no reason to believe that registration officers will adopt different criteria in relation to the two groups of people mentioned by the hon. Member.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the leaflets on the business rate and the collective community charge will be available; for what reasons the leaflets on(a) poll tax rebates and "You and the Community Charge" and (b) "Exemption Students, Second Homes and Appeal" were produced in different styles; and what are the estimated production and distribution costs of (i) the rebate booklet, (ii) "You and the Community Charge" and (iii) the other leaflets referred to above.

Mr. Gummer

As the information which the hon. Member requests is very detailed I am writing to him.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to exempt children on approved full time courses at colleges of further education, and who are not in receipt of any maintenance grant, from the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

[holding answer 4 July 1989]: The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. Most young persons will be liable to the community charge either upon reaching their 18th birthday or at the date on which their parents are no longer entitled to child benefit, whichever is the later. Full time students will pay only 20 per cent. of the charge whilst others on low incomes can claim rebates of up to 80 per cent.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to prevent landlords making an additional charge for poll tax purposes where rates were previously included in rent; what steps he is taking to ensure that appropriate reductions in rent are made when rate revenue ends; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

[holding answer 4 July 1989]: The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. Legislation would be neither necessary nor appropriate in this area. The Department will be producing shortly a booklet on the impact between the community charge and rents in the series "You and the Community Charge".

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions his officials have had with the office of the Data Protection Registrar; and what steps he is taking to monitor the information being requested by community charge registration officers as a part of the registration process in England and Wales.

Mr. Gummer

[holding answer 6 July 1989]: My officials are in regular contact with the office of the Data Protection Registrar. It is for individual community charges registration officers to ensure that their requests for information are within their statutory powers and that they comply with the Data Protection Act 1984.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to introduce a community charge concession for those who care for elderly friends or relatives in the community.

Mr. Gummer

[holding answer, 6 July 1989]: No special provisions are necessary. I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 29 June 1989 to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) Official Report, column 502.

Mr. Couchman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the extent of mischievous registration for community charge in each local authority.

Mr. Gummer

[holding answer 6 July 1989]: I understand that the registration process is proceeding in a generally satisfactory manner. A few mischievous responses to registration forms have been reported in the press.