§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost of a rebate of 50 per cent. on the council tax of second home owners in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [69497]
§ Mr. McLeish[holding answer 8 February 1999]: Information is collected centrally only in respect of the total number of dwellings in receipt of the 50 per cent. council tax discount and we cannot identify how many of these are second homes. The percentage of all dwellings receiving a 50 per cent. discount is around 2 per cent. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.