HC Deb 12 December 1990 vol 182 cc434-5W
9. Mr. Ron Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have been prosecuted for non-payment of the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Key

The Department does not have this information, but I understand that most authorities in England have now started their enforcement procedures.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East,Official Report, 26 November, column 259, he will give further information for those local authorities for which information is missing in the material deposited in the Library.

Mr. Key

Five local authorities have sent in returns to my Department since the previous answer I gave to the hon. Member.

Birmingham Purbeck Authority Three Rivers Warwick York
Number of people who have made a payment in respect of a personal community charge by 30 September 1990 474,409 32,379 53,554 89,750 64,949
Number of people liable who have not made a payment in respect of a personal community charge by 30 September 1990 187,704 1,309 6,360 11,750 11,594
Proportion of charge payers making a payment Per cent. 71.7 96.1 89.4 88.4 84.9

36. Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the projected shortfall in collection of the poll tax in Liverpool for the current financial year.

Mr. Key

The Department does not have this information, but I understand that in the current financial year Liverpool has budgeted for £7,500,000 for community charge debts.

28. Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the personal community charges set in the current year in the boroughs of Gravesham and Thurrock.

Mr. Key

The figures are as follows: Gravesham £294; Thurrock £417.

29. Mr. James Lamond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to transfer the educational component of local authority spending to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo

I have announced that we shall be undertaking a fundamental review of local government finance and structure.

21. Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for changes to the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

24. Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received seeking the repeal of the community charge.

26. Mr. Canavan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about his policy on a review of the poll tax.

30. Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on further proposals he is now considering for reform of the community charge.

34. Mr. Boyes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake a fundamental review of the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heseltine

I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today.