HC Deb 16 March 1989 vol 149 cc318-9W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, on the same basis as table F5, in the Green paper, "Paying for Local Government", what percentage of householders in Leyton constituency whose equivalent net income falls in the range of(a) £100 to £200 per week and (b) £400 to £500 per week would, on 1988–89 figures, pay a higher net community charge, without safety nets, than net rates.

Mr. Gummer

The information requested is not available. The table in the Green Paper was based on a sample survey which cannot provide reliable estimates for individual constituencies.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) all Government publications relating to the community charge which are to be made available in ethnic minority languages and (b) the languages to be used in each case.

Mr. Gummer

[holding answer 13 March 1989]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Copeland on 16 February at column 383. My right hon. Friend and I have been preparing a programme for public information which includes these important matters and we shall be making an announcement on our decisions on minority translations in the near future.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of how many people will pay more in poll tax than they currently pay in rates in the Nottingham, North constituency.

Mr. Gummer

The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. Nor have we any estimate of the numbers of gainers and losers in each local authority or constituency, as a result of the introduction of the community charge. Figures published on 15 December 1988 show that nationally nearly 60 per cent. of all households would pay less with the community charge than they do now with domestic rates.

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