§ Mr. Edward DaveyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average council tax was in(a) London, (b) the south-east, (c) the south-west and (d) the south of England in each financial year since 1995–96. [121210]
106W
§ Mr. RaynsfordTabled are the figures for average council tax per dwelling for London, the south-east, the south-west and the south of England for each financial year since 1995–96. The south of England area has been taken to comprise the regions of London, the south-east and the south-west.
Average council tax dwelling £ London South-east South-west South of England 1995–96 524 526 500 519 1996–97 561 561 524 552 1997–98 593 597 559 586 1998–99 628 663 613 638 1999–2000 669 714 658 684 2000–01 713 760 704 729 2001–02 764 809 745 777 2002–03 819 887 823 847 2003–04 969 1,026 938 983
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much council tax was uncollected for the London boroughs at the latest date for which figures are available on(a) a cash basis and (b) a percentage basis. [121778]
§ Mr. RaynsfordReliable figures for uncollected council taxes are not currently available for London boroughs. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimates that council tax arrears for England as a whole totalled £1.5 billion at 31 March this year. This represents about 1.4 per cent. of the sum of the amounts due for each financial year since the tax was introduced in 1993.
Figures for 2002–03 council taxes that had not been collected by 31 March 2003 are, however, available at an individual local authority level. Amounts uncollected by London boroughs by 31 March 2003 totalled £127 million, or 6.0 per cent. of the amounts due.
§ Mr. CameronTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to allow local councils to give council tax single person reduction to couples where one of the pair is no longer able to live in the home due to(a) long term illness and (b) other reasons. [122723]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThere is already a discount disregard for a person who goes into a care home or hospital and is not expected to return to the home which was their sole or main residence. In addition Clause 77 of the Local Government Bill will provide a new discretionary power for billing authorities to reduce the amount of council tax payable in particular cases or for a class of case. This could include offering the current 25 per cent. single person discou nt to couples where one of them was unable to live in the home due to illness or other reasons.
§ Mr. CameronTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government has to increase councils' flexibility in granting single person discount for council tax. [122724]
§ Mr. RaynsfordClause 77 of the Local Government Bill will provide a new discretionary power for billing authorities to reduce the amount of council tax payable 107W in particular cases or for a class of case. This could include increasing the current 25 per cent. single person discount.