§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will pay transitional relief for the poll tax for five years in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerNo. The introduction of the community charge will promote the accountability of local government. An over-extended transitional period would preclude the early realisation of that accountability. The three-year transitional period for which I have provided strikes the right balance between protecting the interests of the charge payers affected by the structural changes to local government finance, and ensuring that full accountability will be obtained relatively quickly.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Welsh councils have not supplied him with all the details required of their spending plans and community charge for 1990–91 by the appropriate deadline; and if he will describe any action he will now take.
§ Mr. GristThe information required by the Department relating to district council transfers from, and county council precepts upon, collection funds has been received from all Welsh local authorities. The information requested by the Department relating to the community charges set by Welsh local authorities is not due until 2 April, although most councils have already provided this.