Council Tax

HC Deb 17 November 2003 vol 413 cc531-2W

Andrew George

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost was of operating the local government council tax system in each of the last five years for which records are available, broken down by(a) administration, (b) valuation, (c) appeals, (d) council tax benefit administration and (e) other costs. [139157]

Mr. Raynsford

Local authorities in England reported council tax collection costs and council tax benefit administration costs in the last five years are tabled below. Administration, valuation and appeals costs are not reported separately.

£ million
	Council tax collection costs	Council tax benefit administration costs
1999–2000	309.6	216.7
2000–01	301.5	194.8
2001–02	301.1	218.7
2002–031	319.1	204.5
2003–041	2337.0	235.7
1 Budgeted figures.
2In 2003–04, council tax collection costs may include a small amount of NDR, rate (domestic and non-domestic) and community charge collection costs.

Source:

1999–2000 to 2001–02 Revenue Summary Returns. 2002–03 to 2003–04 Budget Estimate Returns.