§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment(1) what would be the approximate amount paid in community charge, expressed as a percentage of disposable income, that would arise for a family of one wage earner, and two other adults over 18 years living in the London borough of Waltham Forest, where the wage earner was(a) a senior executive earning over £75,000 with twice the average-value mortgage, (b) a ward sister earning over £15,000 with an average-value mortgage and (c) a home help earning less than £7,500 with a half-average mortgage; how those percentages would change if the family decided to look after an elderly relative on state pension; and what are the percentages derived from a system of capital value rates plus local income tax paid in the proportions of 80:20, respectively;
(2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Sir H. Rossi), 22 March, Official Report, column 626, what would be the 46W approximate amount paid in community charge, expressed as a percentage of disposable income, that would arise for a family of one wage earner, and two other adults over 18 years living in Hornsey, where the wage earner was (a) a senior executive earning over £75,000 with twice the average-value mortgage, (b) a ward sister earning over £15,000 with an average-value mortgage and (c) a home help earning less than £7,500 with a half-average mortgage; how those percentages would change if the family decided to look after an elderly relative on state pension; and what are the percentages derived from a system of capital value rates plus local income tax paid in the proportions of 80:20, respectively.
§ Mr. GummerThis question requires a very large number of assumptions to be made about the personal circumstances of the individuals cited and answers would not be meaningful.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has identified any beneficial effects on electoral registration arising from the poll tax in England.
§ Mr. GummerThe Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.
It is too early to identify beneficial effects on electoral registration arising from the community charge. However, the electoral registration officer for any area in England and Wales may inspect the community charges register of any charging authority which will add to the sources available to help in compiling electoral registers.