Local Government Finance (Hansard, 19 November 1990)

§ Mr. Battle
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has received to the 1991–92 standard spending assessment announcements from local authorities.

§ Mr. Key
Consultations on the local government finance settlement for 1991–92 will continue until 28 November. The representations received to date from local authorities have shown that the large proposed increases in standard spending assessments are welcomed, and have also included a number of detailed comments on specific points.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proposals he has for exempting clothing, bedding, furniture and basic equipment from seizure by private bailiffs enforcing the community charge;
(2) what proposals he has to amend the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989 to bring controls on bailiffs enforcing the community charge into line with those applying for distress for rent.

§ Mr. Key
My Department does not propose to make any changes to the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989 as regards bailiffs employed by local authorities. We have issued advice on the employment of bailiffs by local authorities which included the suggestion that authorities should issue guidelines to bailiffs on their mode of operation. I understand that the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation will shortly be issuing a practice note which will include details of property which it is unlawful or imprudent to distrain.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for requiring private bailiffs enforcing the community charge to show written authorisation from the local authority.

§ Mr. Key
The Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989 already require a bailiff to show the debtor the written authorisation he has received from the local authority if requested to do so.

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures showing for 1990–91 the average amount in £ sterling per week and the percentage of earnings accounted for by the community charge for (i) a single person, (ii) a single-earner married couple without children, (iii) a single-earner married couple with two children and (iv) a two-earner married couple on(a) 50 per cent., (b) 75 per cent., (c) 100 per cent., (d) 150 per cent., (e) 200 per cent., (f) 300 per cent., (g) 400 per cent., (h) 500 per cent., (i) 700 per cent. and (j) 1,000 per cent. of average earnings.

§ Mr. Key
I regret that it is not possible to produce satisfactory estimates of the amount paid in community charge by households of differing incomes. The amount paid will vary according to the area in which the households live; their entitlement to transitional relief; and their entitlement to community charge rebate.
41W

§ Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have been exempted from paying the community charge in each category of exemption in the London borough of Camden.

§ Mr. Portillo
Information returned by the authority on the number of exempt persons over 18 in the London borough of Camden at 1 June 1990 is as follows:

Number

Severely mentally impaired 57

Aged 18 or 19¹ 66

Members of religious communities 47

In hospital or home² 1,550

Persons without fixed abode 200

Other³ 28

¹ Aged 18 who attract child benefit because they are still at school or aged 18 or 19 and on full-time courses of further, but not higher, education.

² People whose sole or main residence is in an NHS hospital, in a residential care home, a nursing home, a mental nursing home, a private hospital or a hostel providing a substantial level of care, and who are also being treated or cared for in such an institution.

³ People in detention, members of visiting forces, international headquarters and defence organisations, and their dependants (including diplomats), residential care workers employed at a very low salary, and full-time students whose term time address is in Scotland or Northern Ireland. These categories have been combined because of the small numbers involved.

	Number
Severely mentally impaired	57
Aged 18 or 19¹	66
Members of religious communities	47
In hospital or home²	1,550
Persons without fixed abode	200
Other³	28
¹ Aged 18 who attract child benefit because they are still at school or aged 18 or 19 and on full-time courses of further, but not higher, education.
² People whose sole or main residence is in an NHS hospital, in a residential care home, a nursing home, a mental nursing home, a private hospital or a hostel providing a substantial level of care, and who are also being treated or cared for in such an institution.
³ People in detention, members of visiting forces, international headquarters and defence organisations, and their dependants (including diplomats), residential care workers employed at a very low salary, and full-time students whose term time address is in Scotland or Northern Ireland. These categories have been combined because of the small numbers involved.