§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give details of the number of people in England exempted from payment of the community charge on the grounds of severe mental impairment in each year of its existence;
(2) what is his Department's assessment of the number of people in England who (a) will be in receipt of 100 per cent. council tax benefit for the property element of the tax and (b) will be exempt from payment of the personal element of the council tax on the grounds of severe mental impairment;
533W(3) what is his Department's forecast of the number of people in England who were previously exempted from paying the community charge on the grounds of severe mental impairment and who (a) are liable for the water charge element of the council tax, (b) are liable for all or part of the property element of the council tax or (c) will be in receipt of 100 per cent. council tax benefit for the property element.
§ Mr. Robin SquireSome 97,000 people were exempt from the personal community charge as of 1 June 1990 on the grounds of severe mental impairment. Figures for later years of the community charge are not available.
My Department does not collect information on the numbers of people with a severe mental impairment who are liable for the council tax, or who give rise to a discount, or who receive council tax benefit. Because, however, the council tax is a tax on dwellings, fewer people will be liable than was the case under the community charge. Water charges are not collected with the council tax in England.