§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce regulations to prevent the use of information by a charging authority for purposes other than those associated with the management or collection of the community charge which has been disclosed to a charging authority by a community charges registration officer for the purposes associated with the community charge; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeNo, because such regulations are unnecessary. A charging authority may make use of information provided by a community charges registration officer only in accordance with its powers under the Local Goverment Finance Act 1988, and is bound by the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the level of non-payment of the poll tax in the first year it is due.
§ Mr. ChopeIn the light of the very high level of registration achieved by almost all local authorities, improved arrangements for paying by instalments, and more flexible enforcement powers, the level of payment of the community charge should match or exceed that for domestic rates.