HC Deb 20 July 1994 vol 247 cc313-5W
Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures on the number of properties in each of the eight council tax bands(a) in figures and (b) in percentage terms.

Mr. Curry

The latest available figures are for May 1994. The numbers and percentages of dwellings in England in each valuation band are listed.

Valuation band Number of dwellings Percentage
A 5,326,406 26.3
B 3,888,174 19.2
C 4,408,430 21.8
D 2,950,065 14.6
E 1,819,759 9.0
F 970,612 4.8
G 735,148 3.6
H 117,278 0.6

Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many people in England and Wales have had their council tax bill reduced(a) through a discount, (b) through the disability reduction scheme, (c) through the council tax benefit and (d) through the second adult rebate;

(2) if he will publish a table showing, for each collecting local authority in England and Wales, the latest figures available of the level of take-up of (a) the single person discount and (b) discounts excluding the single person discount.

Mr. Curry

Information on local authorities in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Information on numbers of people having a reduction in their council tax bill is not held centrally. The available information is as follows:

  1. (a) the number of dwellings in England on 1 December 1993 subject to a single (25 per cent.) discount was 6,090,000. An additional 500,000 dwellings were subject to a double (50 per cent.) discount;
  2. (b) 96,000 dwellings in England on 1 December 1993 were eligible for a reduction for disabled relief;
  3. (c) the average caseload in England in 1993–4 for recipients of council tax benefit was 4,570,000—(Source: Department of Social Security);
  4. (d) the average caseload in England in 1993–4 for recipients of second adult rebates was 43,000—(Source: Department of Social Security).

I have arranged for a table showing the number of council tax discounts for each local authority in England to be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to aid local authorities in their promotion of the take-up by council tax payers of the various ways of reducing their council tax bills.

Mr. Curry

My Department and the Department of Social Security have produced a range of leaflets explaining entitlement to council tax discounts, exemptions and rebates. I am not aware that local authorities feel in need of further assistance.

Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to monitor local authorities' use of bailiffs to enforce council tax payments.

Mr. Curry

I have no plans to do so. Local authorities normally use bailiffs only when other means of recovery, such as attachment of earnings and deductions from income support, have been unsuccessful or are inappropriate to the circumstances.

Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of properties within band A is valued at(a) £10,000 or less, (b) £10,000 to £19,999, (c) £20,000 to £29,999, or (d) £30,000 to £40,000.

Mr. Curry

The information requested is not available. Valuations of dwellings for council tax are carried out in order to list them in the appropriate band. Precise values are not determined.

Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for each collecting local authority in England and Wales the latest figures available of the level of use of distress to enforce council tax payments.

Mr. Curry

This information is not held centrally.

Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider introducing a requirement on local authorities to report on the remedies used to collect council tax debts once a liability order has been made.

Mr. Curry

My Department collects statistics on the number of liability orders obtained by local authorities in respect of council tax debts, but I have no plans to introduce a requirement for authorities to submit data on the precise method of recovery they use in each case. Having obtained a liability order, most authorities will apply an attachment of earnings if the person is working, or apply for deductions to be made direct from income support if this is appropriate. Where this is not possible, or other arrangements break down, the authority will normally seek to levy distress.