§ 11. Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of providing a 50 per cent. discount on council tax for second homes. [43236]
§ Ms ArmstrongAround 500,000 households in England qualify for the 50 per cent. council tax discount at a cost of some £170 million. Not all of the dwellings which receive the discount are second or holiday homes.510W The 50 per cent. discount applies to all unoccupied dwellings and to certain occupied dwellings such as those where all of the residents are disregarded, for example, households consisting of someone who is severely mentally impaired and their carer.