§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for each metropolitan county(a) the average rate per person and (b) the average Community Charge
§ Mr. GummerRates are a tax on property. The relevant measure of an average rate bill is the payment per property. An average per person, including children, would have little meaning. I have therefore provided in the table the average rate bill per household and the average illustrative community charge in each of the areas referred to. These figures are based on 1988–89 budgeted expenditure levels and are consistent with those published on 23 June 1988.
Illustrative average community charge and rate bill in 1988–89 Average Rate Bill per property Average Community Charge Greater Manchester 466 254 Merseyside 512 268 South Yorkshire 405 286