HC Deb 17 July 1990 vol 176 cc498-9W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met leaders of local authority associations to discuss alternatives to the community charge.

Mr. Portillo

My right hon. Friend and I last met the leaders of the local authority associations on 5 July at the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance. The leaders did not raise the question of alternatives to the community charge.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average reduction in poll tax per head for each additional £1 million support for each local authority in England and Wales.

Mr. Portillo

[holding answer 12 July 1990]: The effect on community charges of an extra £1 million of support for an area depends upon the budget decisions of the local authorities in that area. Prudent authorities would pass the support on to their charge payers in the form of reduced community charges. Others might increase spending, giving no benefit to charge payers in their area.