§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost to public funds of the Price Waterhouse report on the cost of administering and collecting the poll tax in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 8 May 1989]: The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. The cost of the report on the community charge to which the hon. Member presumably refers was £60,000.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities on the actual costs of introducing the community charge; and if he will consider the provision of additional finance(a) in the current financial year and (b) in 1990–91.
§ Mr. GummerWe have received a number of representations from charging authorities on the costs of introducing the community charge. We believe that sufficient resources, both capital and revenue, have been made available by the Government for 1989–90. Collection costs in 1990–91 will be taken into account in assessing charging authorities' need to spend. We shall be discussing authorities' need to spend with the local authority associations before making proposals for the 1990–91 settlement.