HC Deb 20 March 1991 vol 188 cc127-8W
Mr. Hayward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask the district auditor to review the action of councils and councillors when a substantial proportion of the community charge has not been collected.

Mr. Key

All community chargepayers have a right to expect their local authority to collect the charge in a diligent and economic manner. The Audit Commission has published useful guidance to local authorities on improving collection performance. In general local authorities are seeking to collect the charge efficiently. I would expect that there are no cases where action by councillors is impeding effective collection, but if there were the auditor already has a duty to under section 20 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 to certify, where a loss has been incurred or deficiency caused by wilful misconduct of any person, that the amount of that loss or deficiency is due from that person. The auditor may recover the amount for the benefit of the authority from that person concerned. Councillors may therefore be liable for uncollected community charges where the failure to collect results from their misconduct.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the various guidance circulars he has issued to local authorities concerning collection of the poll tax.

Mr. Key

My Department issued a practice note to local authorities covering all aspects of the collection of the community charge. A copy is in the Library. The note is currently being revised and updated by the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation.

Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households he expects to benefit from the new community charge reduction scheme in Berwick borough, Castle Morpeth borough and Alnwick district.

Mr. Key

Information on the number of people expected to benefit from the community charge reduction scheme broken down by local authority areas will be available once authorities have returned their initial grant claim forms.

Mr. Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the year on year increase in standard spending assessment for 1991–92 in respect of(a) Westminster, (b) Salford, (c) Wigan and (d) Bolton.

Mr. Key

The percentage increases in SSA between 1990–91 and 1991–92 are as follows(a) 22.1, (b) 16.3, (c) 18.6 and (d) 17.9.