HC Deb 22 January 1990 vol 165 cc582-4W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his best estimate of the total cost in 1990–91 of exempting all YTS trainees from liability to pay the poll tax.

Mr. David Hunt

[holding answer 16 January 1990]: The gross cost of exempting all YTS trainees before any allowance for community charge benefit would be about £20 million. This assumes a total of 73,250 YTS trainees liable to pay the community charge.

Virtually all non-employed trainees, and a proportion of employed trainees, would be entitled to community charge benefit.