HC Deb 23 May 1989 vol 153 cc489-90W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement clarifying the sentence in his Department's leaflet "The Community Charge—How It Will Work For You", which readsFilling in the form does not mean you will have to pay the community charge for anyone else in relation to the provision in the Act for joint liability.

Mr. Gummer

The section of the leaflet to which the hon. Member refers deals with the process of registration. The High Court said in the judgment given on 16 MayThe filling in of a registration form does not in itself mean that you will have to pay the community charge for anyone else or indeed yourself. As a matter of law it is no more than the first step in a process which, subject to rights of appeal, will result in names appearing in the register.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the illustrative figures for the poll tax in Nottingham given since 1987; and when he now expects to estimate the figure to be levied in May 1990.

Mr. Gummer

The Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax.

Published illustrative figures show a community charge in Nottingham of £207 in 1987–88 and £251 in 1988–89. With the proposed transitional safety net arrangements fully in place, the published illustrative figures are £195 for 1987–88 and £231 for 1988–89. Illustrative 1989–90 community charges in England will be published once data needed from local authorities have been received and analysed.

The illustrative figure for Nottingham will be dependent on spending by Nottinghamshire county council and Nottingham city council. If both the county council and the city council had budgeted to spend according to the assumptions used in the 1989–90 rate support grant settlement and had rated accordingly, the 1989–90 illustrative community charge in Nottingham (disregarding the transitional arrangements) would be £251.

Mr. Tim Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the community charge in England and Wales.

Mr. Gummer

The overwhelming majority of local authorities are making good progress in preparing for the introduction of the community charge. Registration began this week in most areas of England and Wales. The leaflet informing people of their rights and duties has been distributed, despite an attempt to stop it.