§ 19. Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of local government expenditure will be raised from the community charge payer, the uniform business rate payer and Government grant; and what were the Government's original estimates if councils had kept to Government spending guidelines.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerOn the basis of local authority budgets for 1990–91, 58 per cent. of expenditure will be met from Government grant, 20 per cent. from the national non-domestic rate and 22 per cent. by charge payers. After allowing for rebates and transitional relief the amount met locally should reduce to below 19 per cent.
If local government had spent in line with my settlement 61 per cent. of its expenditure would have been met by central Government grant and 21 per cent. by non-domestic rates, leaving 18 per cent. to be met by community charge payers. After taking account of transitional relief and community charge rebates the share met by charge payers would have fallen to below 15 per cent.
§ 21. Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to increase the standard spending assessment for Clwyd.
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§ Mr. Peter WalkerStandard spending assessments (SSAs) for 1990–91 were discussed with, and agreed by, the Welsh local government associations. The formulae for 1991–92 are under discussion and all representations will be considered before final decisions are taken on grant distribution for that year.
22. Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his experience with implementation of the community charge in the current year; and whether he will recommend any major changes in its application next year.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI have been impressed with the professionalism demonstrated by Welsh local authorities in implementing the community charge, and I have written to the chairmen of the associations to that effect. As with any new policy, the Government will monitor the working of the policy in practice.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the number of local authorities in Wales which are charging standard community charge on empty properties at(a) single rate, (b) double rate (c) other ratios.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI have made no such assessment. I shall shortly be collecting information from all charging authorities about the use they have made of their powers to specify property classes and set multipliers at less than the maximum.
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§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has held with the local authorities in Wales on the level of standard community charge to be levied on empty properties.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI consulted the Welsh local authority associations on draft regulations prescribing standard charge classes and maximum multipliers for those classes. Within the framework established by legislation and regulations, decisions on standard charge multipliers for any class of property are for individual charging authorities.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to visit any of the poll tax administration and collection offices in Wales.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI have no present plans to do so.