§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his Department has written to all local authorities within the last six months to remind them of the requirements of council tax regulations in respect of the carers discount. [32677]
§ Mr. RaynsfordMy officials wrote to all local authorities about the carers discount disregard on 15 September 1997. My officials also wrote to local authorities on 25 February about MENCAP'S report "Simply Disregarded—Why many Council Tax offices are failing the nation's carers", published on 23 February.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to instigate an advertising campaign advising carers of their entitlement to the carers council tax discount. [32341]
§ Mr. RaynsfordMy officials wrote to all local authorities about the carers discount disregard on 15 September 1997 and 25 February. It is the responsibility of local authorities to inform taxpayers about their entitlement to discounts taking into account their individual circumstances.