Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
28 Oct 2002 : Column 525Wcontinued
Mr. Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the guidelines to local authorities are for imposing council tax concerning servicemen with homes in the UK but who spend considerable amounts of time abroad on duty. [77762]
Mr. Leslie: When a local authority determines council tax liability, a member of the armed services who spends time abroad is treated in the same way as anyone else who spends time abroad. Section 6 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 sets out the basis of liability to pay council tax. A key factor in determining liability is whether the property is the person's sole or main residence. There is significant case law on this subject for local authorities and their legal advisors to call upon.
28 Oct 2002 : Column 526W
Ian Lucas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on which occasions a police authority budget has been capped since 1984. [76627]
Mr. Raynsford: I am only able to provide information on which English police authorities have their budgets capped. Since the creation of the National Assembly for Wales, local government finance has been a devolved matter and the responsibility of the Assembly. Prior to the creation of the National Assembly, capping in relation to authorities in Wales was the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales.
Since 1984, the following English police authorities have had their budgets (or precepts) capped for the purpose of the limitation of council tax (and its predecessors):
Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the members of the West Midlands Regional Assembly; where they are from; what their function is; how they were chosen; how they can be dismissed; what they cost; and how they are paid for. [77097]
Mr. Raynsford: The West Midlands Regional Assembly is a voluntary regional chamber designated under the Regional Development Act 1998. Its membership is a matter for the Assembly. The Government has awarded the Assembly #600,000 in 2002/03 to enhance its scrutiny role and strengthen regional accountability.
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the schemes and initiatives sponsored by his Department and its agencies which are not the subject of national roll out, showing (a) the authorities or areas covered by the scheme and (b) the budget of the scheme in the last year for which information is available. [75677]
Mr. Leslie: The schemes and initiatives sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies which are not the subject of national roll out are shown in the table, together with the budget for 200203 and the areas covered.
(1) 200102 figure. #52 million has been made available under the scheme to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for the period 200104.
(2) URCs do not receive any central government funding. Running costs are met by the main partners(the local authority, the Regional Development Agency, English Partnerships (in some cases), the private sector and other key partners.
(3) Community Chest, Community Empowerment Fund and Neighbourhood Renewal Fund are available to each of the 88 listed Neighbourhood Renewal areas.
28 Oct 2002 : Column 529W
Michael Jack: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on local authority reactions to his recently published proposals to deal with travellers. [75344]
Mr. McNulty: Since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Office joint news release outlining the Government's proposals to tackle unauthorised Traveller camps was issued, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received an overall positive response from local authorities to the new approaches.
Local authorities will continue to be kept informed on the progress of the forthcoming joint guidance, and will also be consulted on the findings of the recently published research on the provision and condition of local authority Gypsy/Traveller sites in England.
Next Section | Index | Home Page |