§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received about notices issued by local authorities following the death of a council tax payer; [20069]
(2) if he will issue guidance to local authorities in respect of the appropriate tone to be employed in notices issued following the death of a council tax payer. [20068]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordI am aware of only one such representation.
The form of each notice is for individual local authorities to determine. However, we have issued guidance to authorities suggesting that notices issued in these circumstances should be accompanied by a sympathetic letter to the bereaved.