§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many poll tax payers there are; how many have a rebate; and what is the average rebate.
§ Miss WiddecombeI have been asked to reply.
In 1990–91 there are around 42 million people in Great Britain liable to pay the community charge and the average community charge benefit per individual is £4.30 per week. At August 1990 the estimated number of individuals receiving community charge benefit was 8.9 million. This figure probably underestimates the current position because, at that time, local authorities still had a number of unprocessed claims; it is also slightly higher than that given in my reply on 24 January 1991 to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) at columns 307–8 because updated information from local authorities has just become available.