§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate for the cost of the collection of the community charge in each region of Scotland for 1989–90; what is the estimate for collection of business rates for 1989–90 for each region; and what is the equivalent cost of collection of all rates for each region in 1988–89.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 17 May 1990]: It is not possible to produce satisfactory figures on this basis for these years because the local authority estimates leave out costs attributable to central administration and include income in respect of statutory additions for late payments. The table, which includes negative and low amounts for certain authorities, shows the results of processing the available figures in the manner requested:
586W
1989–90 1988–89 Regional council Cost of collection of the community charge £000 Cost of collection of non-domestic rates £000 Cost of collection of all rates £000 Borders 564 187 368 Central 861 -26 920 Dumfries and Galloway 355 2 225
1989–90 1988–89 Regional council Cost of collection of the community charge £000 Cost of collection of non-domestic rates £000 Cost of collection of all rates £000 Fife 2,191 31 681 Grampian 1,692 99 1,555 Highland 787 304 744 Lothian 3,227 1,169 2,656 Strathclyde 7,105 -531 5,346 Tayside 2,123 201 1,081