§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what assessment he has made of the extent of(a) central Government and (b) local government finance employed to subsidise the costs of the council tax rebate for (i) second homes and (ii) other residential properties entitled to a council tax discount or rebate for each of the past five years for which records are available; [62618]
(2) what level of (a) central Government and (b) local government moneys have been used to provide the necessary subsidy for the delivery of the council tax rebate for (i) second homes and (ii) all other residential properties entitled to a council tax discount rebate in each of the past five years for which records are available in (A) each of the six districts of Cornwall, (B) Cornwall county and (C) the council of the Isles of Scilly. [62619]
§ Mr. RaynsfordLocal authorities are compensated through revenue support grant paid by central Government for council tax income foregone as a result of dwellings in their area being entitled to council tax discounts.
The total council tax income foregone in respect of second homes is estimated at £80 million for England in 2001–02. Information for individual local authorities is not centrally available. Further work is being done to calculate the total council tax income foregone as a result of 25 per cent. and 50 per cent. discounts and I will write with further details when this has been completed.