§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with organisations that run residential care homes as to the effect that paying the new council tax will have on such homes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Robin SquireWe have received a number of representations from care home owners about the council tax. My officials have met a delegation from the Joint Care Committee to discuss the effect of the tax. They explained that, for the reasons given in my answer to the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Harvey) on 7 July,Official Report, column 157, the council tax bills faced by care home owners are likely to he modest. In many cases these bills are likely to be further reduced by transitional relief.