§ Mr. MaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 18 April,Official Report, column 890, how much the average poll tax in Scotland would be in 1990–91 if the rebate scheme was financed by poll tax payers and not central Government; and if he will give the figure for each district and region in Scotland.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI regret that it is not possible to answer the hon. Member's question. If the community charge benefit scheme was financed by the authority's charge payers, the community charge level itself would rise and rebates would rise accordingly. This spiral effect should eventually level out but it is not possible to estimate at what point.