HC Deb 25 January 1993 vol 217 cc596-7W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to provide that builders of new houses are not liable to make council tax payments unless they are designated occupiers of the new-build houses.

Mr. Robin Squire

No.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue new guidance to local authorities on defining "substantially completed", in the context of the building of new houses and the liability of builders for community charge and council tax payments.

Mr. Robin Squire

No. For the purposes of the council tax, billing authorities will serve a completion notice where the new building in question can reasonably be expected to be completed within three months.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to simplify the certification procedures for the buildres of new houses currently in force in relation to the council tax.

Mr. Robin Squire

Billing authorities will serve a completion notice on the owner of a new building when the work remaining to be done can reasonably be expected to be completed within three months. This brings the procedure for serving completion notices in respect of domestic property into line with current practice in respect of non-domestic property.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reduction in council tax will be available to disabled persons in band A properties.

Mr. Robin Squire

I refer the hon. Member to the written answers I gave the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms. Anderson) on 5 November 1992,Official Report, column 370, and 18 November 1992, Official Report, column 203.