§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in theOfficial Report, for each local authority area in England (a) the number of individuals who are liable to pay the personal community charge, (b) the number of people who are paying the personal community charge and (c) the number of people who are exempt from paying the personal community charge, separately distinguishing the numbers of exemption category.
§ Mr. KeyI am arranging for the available information, supplied by local authorities, to be placed in the Library of the House.
The figures given for the total number of exemptions from the personal community charge include
- (i) Community charges registration officers' estimates of the numbers exempt because they are in detention, living in short stay accommodation, or persons without fixed abodes. Figures for those categories are known to be underestimated because CCROs are not obliged to keep records of those exempt.
- (ii) CCRO's estimates of the numbers excempt because they are contributors to a collective community charge.
Separate information has not been given where there are fewer than 20 persons in a category of exemption or where the majority of authorities reported fewer than 20 persons in a category of exemption.