§ 12. Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on changes to council tax levels in 2004–05. [159913]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will publish definitive information on council tax levels in 2004–05 once we have validated returns from all authorities. In the meantime, I am pleased to say that most councils are budgeting prudently, and that council tax increases are expected to be, on average, less than half last year's levels.
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 10 February 2004,Official Report,column 1347, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter to the Mayor of London on the capping of council tax. [159174]
§ Mr. RaynsfordNo. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has written to a number of authorities but as a matter of policy it has not published either the names of these authorities or the text of the letters. It would be invidious to single out authorities by making public the letters they have received on this matter.