§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what levels of payment have been made to local authorities to recompense them through the premium support grant for the 50 per cent. council tax discount given to(a) second homes and (b) other dwellings entitled to the 50 per cent. discount in each of the last two years (i) by district and (ii) by county and unitary authority. [4331]
§ Dr. WhiteheadOur best estimates of the recompense in 2001–02 are £80 million in relation to second homes and £140 million in relation to discounts for other dwellings.
Corresponding estimates for 2000–01 and comparable figures for either year for each district and county/unitary area in England are not available.
In the Rural White Paper the Government indicated that there would be consultation on a proposal that the additional council tax raised from ending the discount should be retained by the local authorities concerned.