HC Deb 26 November 1990 vol 181 cc258-9W
Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the relevant population for community charge purposes for each charging authority(a) calculated under the provisions of the Population Report (England) laid before the House on 11 January and (b) calculated under the provisions of the draft Population Report (England) (No. 2) laid before the House on 31 October; if he will list the percentage difference between the figures outlined in (a) and (b) above; if he will give the reasons for any percentage difference which exceeds 5 per cent.; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will list for each local authority (a) the relevant population for community charge purposes for each charging authority calculated under the provisions of the Population Report (England) laid before the House on 11 January, (b) the relevant population for community charge purposes for each charging authority calculated under the provisions of the draft Population Report (England) (No. 2) laid before the House on 31 October and (c) the percentage difference between the figures in (a) and (b) above; if he will give the reasons for any percentage difference over 5 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Key

I am arranging for the information to be placed in the Library of the House. The population figures are based on information about the number of persons on the community charges register for each authority, as supplied and certified by the relevant community charges registration officer except in the case of the City of London and Welwyn Hatfield district council, where under the provisions of the Population Report (England) the 1990–91 relevant population was based on information from the Registrar General and other sources. Differences reflect differences in the figures supplied except for those two authorities.

Mr. William Powell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in theOfficial Report the total number of community standard charge payers for 1990–91 for each local authority in England.

Mr. Key

The available information was placed in the Library on 24 October.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the current poll tax payment rates in each local authority area in England, as percentage figures; and if he will indicate the numbers who have paid only one poll tax instalment in each instance.

Mr. Key

I am arranging for the information reported to the Department about the percentage of community charge payers in each authority who had made a payment by 30 September, to be placed in the Library of the House. No information is available about the numbers of instalments paid.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East of 20 November,Official Report, column 62, when he expects to be in a position to give the same information as to the rate of collection of the poll tax for Birmingham.

Mr. Key

I understand that the council hopes to be able to provide the information shortly.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 20 November to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East,Official Report, column 62. if he will now list for each local authority in England and Wales the available information as to the numbers of people who (a) have or (b) have not begun paying the poll tax and the percentage of the number of adults liable that represents.

Mr. Key

I am arranging for the information for England to be placed in the Library of the House. Figures for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East of 20 November,Official Report, column 62, if he will now make it his practice to collect from local authorities information as to the numbers of people seriously in arrears with the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Key

I have no plans to collect this information.