HC Deb 06 March 1991 vol 187 cc208-9W
31. Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the poll tax review.

Mr. Allan Stewart

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is continuing to discuss with colleagues a wide range of options concerned with the financing and structure of local government.

35. Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the representations he has received on the case for abolishing or reviewing the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Allan Stewart

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about different aspects of the community charge arrangements. These are being considered carefully as part of the current review of the community charge.

Mr. Maxton

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the qualifying date relating to residence in a property for eligibility for the community charge reduction scheme in Scotland in 1991–92.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The community charge reduction scheme will operate with backdated effect from 1 April 1990. Reductions to personal community charge liabilities will be calculated on the basis of the difference between a person's or a household's former rates liability and their actual personal community charge (not including water) at 1 April 1989. One of the criteria for eligibility, therefore, will be that the charge payer is resident in the same property as he or she was solely or mainly resident on 1 April 1989. If the person moves after 1 April 1990, the date from which the new scheme is effective, entitlement will normally cease on the day of moving.

Mr. Maxton

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the maximum number of assumed poll tax charges that will be used per household for the purposes of calculating help under the community charge reduction scheme in Scotland in 1991–92.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The community charge reduction scheme is to be based on actual community charges (less water charges) set by local authorities in 1989–90 and will operate with backdated effect to 1 April 1990. A maximum of two charges per household will be used for calculating entitlement. Additional assistance is available for the elderly and the disabled who were not former ratepayers.

Mr. Maxton

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people benefited from the poll tax transitional relief scheme in Scotland; and what was the average annual payment to each person who qualified.

Mr. Allan Stewart

Regional and islands councils are required to provide information on the numbers of people who have received relief under the original and the enhanced transitional relief schemes together with information on the total amounts of relief disbursed when making their claims for reimbursement to the Department. Final claims have not yet been received from all local authorities and the information requested is therefore not yet available centrally.

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