§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend the period of time in which people can apply for a poll tax rebate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThere are no plans to extend the 56-day limit. The regulations provide that people who claimed community charge benefit within 56 days of 1 April 1989, or who claim within 56 days of receiving their first community charge demand notice if this is later, will have their claim treated as if it had been made on 1 April 1989 provided that they were liable for the charge from that date and the appropriate authority is satisfied that any delay in issuing the demand notice was not caused by the claimant's attempts to evade payment of the charge. The 56-day period was arrived at following discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. It has been extensively publicised. It represents a real concession to the78W concerns expressed and is a significant departure from the principle that benefit cannot normally be awarded until it has been claimed. The 56 days allow reasonable time for the making of claims, even where people may not have claimed benefit before.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish(a) his latest estimates of how many people in England and Wales will be entitled to community charge rebate, and (b) the expected level of take-up.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI regret that no estimates are available of the numbers of people who might be entitled to community charge rebate if they were to claim it, so it is not possible to derive an estimated level of take up. Estimates of the numbers of people expected to receive it were given in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Clay) on 19 October 1988 at columns897–8. Revised estimates will be available in due course.