§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount of money saved in community charge reduction scheme payments due to the £140 reduction in headline bills; what is the likely cost of the reduction scheme in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloThe cost of the reduction scheme announced in January was £1.7 billion. Following the Budget changes, my best estimate of the cost of the reduction scheme is £1.25 billion.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to publish regulations relating to the Local Government Finance and Valuation Bill on either(a) capping or (b) valuation before the end of July; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloWe intend to publish as soon as practicable regulations to enable us to make an early start on the exercise of allocating domestic properties into bands.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was paid in 1990–91 in poll tax transitional relief.
§ Mr. PortilloLocal authorities have not yet submitted final claims for grant in respect of transitional relief awarded, but to date they have claimed £260 million.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the administrative costs of administering(a) poll tax transitional relief in 1990–91 and (b) the community charge reduction scheme in 1991–92.
§ Mr. PortilloA total of £19 million was paid to local authorities last year to reimburse them for the cost of operating the transitional relief scheme. This year local authorities will receive a further £15 million to cover the costs of preparing for and administering the reduction scheme.