§ Mr. GoodmanTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what central guidance is issued by his Department in relation to the display by local councils of the qualifying rules for council tax disability reduction, with particular reference to occupants of Band A properties with disabilities. [150423]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) Regulations 2003 requires the explanatory notes to contain a general indication as to the circumstances in which a person may be eligible for the purposes of the Council Tax (Reductions for Disabilities) Regulations 1992. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has issued no central guidance.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what account he will take of the Budget Red Book's estimate for the rise in council tax revenues in 2004–05 in determining the level of council tax rises at which he will exercise capping powers. [150209]
§ Mr. RaynsfordIn order to consider public expenditure in the round, the Treasury does make projections of council tax yield for future years. These projections are based on a number of assumptions about changes in the council tax rate, the tax base, the collection rate and council tax benefit payments. It would be wrong for the Treasury to make a detailed forecast of council tax rates, as these are set by local authorities, not by the Government. The rate is therefore assumed to rise in line with past trend.
This does not represent a judgment by the Government on a likely or acceptable level of council tax, and has no effect whatsoever on grant allocations to local authorities.
304WWith the significant extra investment the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister put into local government and the scope for efficiency improvements, our view is that local authorities can and should deliver council tax increases in low single figures in 2004–05.