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Council Tax

Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the policy consideration underlying the charging of 50 per cent. council tax on the owners of residential care homes ; and if he will reconsider this policy.

Mr. Redwood : Further to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Harvey) on 7 July, col. 157, we have received a number of representations from care homes about the council tax. We are presently discussing these representations with the joint care committee.

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