House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 9 Feb 2005 (pt 22)

9 Feb 2005 : Column 1577W—continued

Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter dated 29 March 2004 from the hon. Member for Brent, East regarding Ms Kate Stone. [215626]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no record of receiving the hon. Member's letter of 29 March 2004. Officials have now obtained a copy of the letter from the hon. Member and a reply will be sent shortly.

9 Feb 2005 : Column 1578W

Council Tax (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of council tax has been collected in each Greater London borough in each year since 1997; and what the total cost of administering council tax collection was in each year. [214565]

Mr. Raynsford: Listed in the following table are the reported in-year council tax collection rates for each London borough and the City of London for each year

9 Feb 2005 : Column 1579W

from 1997–98 to 2003–04. Figures for 2004–05 are not yet available. The collection of council tax continues after the end of the financial year to which it relates. This

9 Feb 2005 : Column 1580W

means that the percentage of council tax ultimately collected for any financial year is greater than that shown in the table.
In-year council tax collection rates⁽⁴¹⁾(percentage)

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04

Inner London:

City of London 97.5 97.4 98.2 98.3 98.4 97.6 98.2

Camden 88.5 91.1 92.3 92.7 93.5 92.7 93.4

Greenwich 92.2 92.2 91.3 92.2 92.0 92.8 93.3

Hackney 78.1 74.5 67.9 67.8 74.0 79.5 79.3

Hammersmith and Fulham 89.1 92.3 93.2 93.8 94.5 95.1 95.2

Islington 88.3 88.9 90.2 90.0 91.5 88.4 90.5

Kensington and Chelsea 94.9 95.2 95.6 96.0 95.6 95.6 95.5

Lambeth 80.3 80.3 84.4 82.0 86.5 90.1 88.7

Lewisham 90.6 90.6 92.0 93.3 93.7 93.7 93.7

Southwark 81.9 81.3 80.2 87.1 90.2 92.0 92.0

Tower Hamlets 86.7 88.1 88.3 89.3 90.7 91.8 92.5

Wandsworth 90.9 91.4 92.8 94.0 94.5 94.8 94.9

Westminster 92.6 93.7 92.9 91.8 93.0 93.5 93.1

Average Inner London 88.0 88.5 88.7 89.6 91.1 91.9 92.0

Outer London:

Barking and Dagenham 95.0 95.3 94.7 94.0 94.5 91.8 92.0

Barnet 95.1 95.3 95.6 95.8 96.2 96.2 95.5

Bexley 94.5 94.2 94.9 95.4 95.7 96.0 95.9

Brent 89.5 91.4 90.4 92.0 91.1 89.5 90.6

Bromley 97.4 97.0 96.3 96.6 96.5 96.4 96.8

Croydon 92.4 92.8 91.7 91.9 93.9 94.7 93.3

Ealing 94.8 94.9 94.4 93.4 94.1 94.6 95.4

Enfield 91.8 93.5 93.7 94.4 94.6 94.6 95.0

Haringey 82.3 85.0 85.1 88.8 90.1 92.5 93.1

Harrow 96.9 96.8 96.2 98.2 98.6 97.2 98.0

Havering 97.7 96.8 95.6 96.4 96.1 95.9 96.4

Hillingdon 95.0 95.7 95.0 95.6 96.5 95.2 95.2

Hounslow 91.9 91.4 93.4 94.0 93.9 93.8 93.0

Kingston upon Thames 93.9 91.9 93.7 94.0 95.9 96.5 96.6

Merton 95.5 95.1 95.2 95.7 95.6 96.5 96.6

Newham 82.0 83.1 83.3 84.9 86.8 90.0 91.0

Redbridge 96.1 96.1 95.7 95.5 95.7 95.7 95.6

Richmond upon Thames 97.3 96.2 96.7 97.0 97.6 97.6 97.9

Sutton 97.4 97.0 97.3 97.3 97.3 97.3 98.3

Waltham Forest 91.8 87.8 87.7 88.0 90.6 93.0 89.7

Average Outer London 93.8 93.9 93.7 94.3 94.9 95.0 95.0

Average Greater London 91.8 92.1 92.1 92.8 93.7 94.1 94.1

⁽⁴¹⁾ Amount of council tax due received by the end of the financial year as a percentage of the net collectable debit for the year.
Source:
QRC4 returns

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Inner London:
City of London	97.5	97.4	98.2	98.3	98.4	97.6	98.2
Camden	88.5	91.1	92.3	92.7	93.5	92.7	93.4
Greenwich	92.2	92.2	91.3	92.2	92.0	92.8	93.3
Hackney	78.1	74.5	67.9	67.8	74.0	79.5	79.3
Hammersmith and Fulham	89.1	92.3	93.2	93.8	94.5	95.1	95.2
Islington	88.3	88.9	90.2	90.0	91.5	88.4	90.5
Kensington and Chelsea	94.9	95.2	95.6	96.0	95.6	95.6	95.5
Lambeth	80.3	80.3	84.4	82.0	86.5	90.1	88.7
Lewisham	90.6	90.6	92.0	93.3	93.7	93.7	93.7
Southwark	81.9	81.3	80.2	87.1	90.2	92.0	92.0
Tower Hamlets	86.7	88.1	88.3	89.3	90.7	91.8	92.5
Wandsworth	90.9	91.4	92.8	94.0	94.5	94.8	94.9
Westminster	92.6	93.7	92.9	91.8	93.0	93.5	93.1
Average Inner London	88.0	88.5	88.7	89.6	91.1	91.9	92.0

Outer London:
Barking and Dagenham	95.0	95.3	94.7	94.0	94.5	91.8	92.0
Barnet	95.1	95.3	95.6	95.8	96.2	96.2	95.5
Bexley	94.5	94.2	94.9	95.4	95.7	96.0	95.9
Brent	89.5	91.4	90.4	92.0	91.1	89.5	90.6
Bromley	97.4	97.0	96.3	96.6	96.5	96.4	96.8
Croydon	92.4	92.8	91.7	91.9	93.9	94.7	93.3
Ealing	94.8	94.9	94.4	93.4	94.1	94.6	95.4
Enfield	91.8	93.5	93.7	94.4	94.6	94.6	95.0
Haringey	82.3	85.0	85.1	88.8	90.1	92.5	93.1
Harrow	96.9	96.8	96.2	98.2	98.6	97.2	98.0
Havering	97.7	96.8	95.6	96.4	96.1	95.9	96.4
Hillingdon	95.0	95.7	95.0	95.6	96.5	95.2	95.2
Hounslow	91.9	91.4	93.4	94.0	93.9	93.8	93.0
Kingston upon Thames	93.9	91.9	93.7	94.0	95.9	96.5	96.6
Merton	95.5	95.1	95.2	95.7	95.6	96.5	96.6
Newham	82.0	83.1	83.3	84.9	86.8	90.0	91.0
Redbridge	96.1	96.1	95.7	95.5	95.7	95.7	95.6
Richmond upon Thames	97.3	96.2	96.7	97.0	97.6	97.6	97.9
Sutton	97.4	97.0	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3	98.3
Waltham Forest	91.8	87.8	87.7	88.0	90.6	93.0	89.7
Average Outer London	93.8	93.9	93.7	94.3	94.9	95.0	95.0
Average Greater London	91.8	92.1	92.1	92.8	93.7	94.1	94.1

Listed in the following table are the reported council tax collection costs for each London borough and the City of London for each year from 1997–98 to 2004–05.
Council tax collection costs

(£000)
Outturn
Budgets

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05

Inner London:

City of London 301 286 281 270 257 326 481 841

Camden 2,143 2,052 1,737 2,116 2,170 2,323 2,904 2,751

Greenwich 2,460 2,365 2,284 2,330 2,330 2,366 2,541 2,601

Hackney 2,434 1,999 2,180 2,292 4,964 3,984 2,364 2,603

Hammersmith and Fulham 2,009 1,610 1,537 997 1,503 1,348 1,243 940

Islington 1,822 1,786 1,442 156 1,662 2,117 2,375 2,395

Kensington and Chelsea 1,795 1,762 1,839 1,996 1,831 1,719 1,962 1,786

Lambeth 3,932 3,299 3,396 3,245 2,122 2,859 2,276 2,721

Lewisham 2,439 2,543 2,356 2,518 2,522 2,685 5,118 4,016

Southwark 3,276 3,324 3,647 3,482 3,792 4,010 4,280 4,896

Tower Hamlets 2,069 2,435 2,150 2,037 1,951 1,904 1,956 2,180

Wandswoith 1,662 1,685 1,658 1,461 1,771 2,004 2,007 2,002

Westminster 2,265 2,205 2,455 2,190 2,066 2,543 2,584 2,353

Total Inner London 28,607 27,351 26,962 25,090 28,941 30,188 32,091 32,085

Outer London:

Barking and Dagenham 887 820 869 810 809 861 1,018 1,166

Bamet 1,597 1,711 1,977 1,822 2,040 2,177 2,489 2,730

Bexley 625 548 536 475 515 452 718 376

Brent 2,315 2,199 2,291 3,083 390 291 3,170 2,924

Bromley 1,459 1,465 1,213 1,180 1,221 937 784 835

Croydon 2,509 2,622 2,688 2,933 3,032 2,772 3,683 4,101

Ealing 2,651 2,520 2,635 2,888 3,089 3,370 4,293 4,035

Enfield 2,132 1,697 1,709 1,709 1,789 1,940 1,037 2,524

Haringey 2,571 2,843 2,666 2,534 2,460 2,464 2,888 3,193

Harrow 1,126 1,124 876 860 811 709 673 681

Havering 1,731 2,052 2,627 2,554 1,555 1,965 2,514 2,337

Hillingdon 1,830 1,891 1,865 2,053 2,221 1,737 2,242 2,222

Hounslow 1,717 1,833 1,790 1,678 2,183 2,245 2,338 2,392

Kingston upon Thames 681 741 801 963 985 1,198 1,131 972

Merton 1,662 1,707 1,677 1,856 1,429 1,913 2,213 2,156

Newham 1,622 1,911 1,620 1,398 1,749 1,817 1,705 1,587

Redbridge 2,041 1,994 1,868 1,725 1,800 1,832 1,827 1,482

Richmond upon Thames 1,251 1,170 1,082 1,146 1,001 1,426 1,525 1,627

Sutton 792 681 658 728 860 883 902 977

Waltham Forest 2,367 2,522 2,169 1,879 2,478 3,178 2,968 3,288

Total Outer London 33,566 34,051 33,617 34,274 32,417 34,167 40,118 41,605

Total Greater London 62,173 61,402 60,579 59,364 61,358 64,355 72,209 73,690

Note:
The figures for 2003–04 and 2004–05 differ from those for the earlier years in that they are budget, rather than outturn, figures, and because they also include: (a) non-domestic rates collection costs in excess of the allowance made against contributions to the pool; (b) the costs of collection of domestic and non-domestic rates due for the period up to 31 March 1990; and (c) the costs of collection of community charges. Outturn figures for 2002–03 indicate however, that council tax collection costs accounted for almost 97 per cent. of the combined total nationally.
Source:
RO6 returns (1997–98 to 2002–03) and RA returns (2003–04 and 2004–05)

9 Feb 2005 : Column 1581W

(£000)
	Outturn	Budgets
	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Inner London:
City of London	301	286	281	270	257	326	481	841
Camden	2,143	2,052	1,737	2,116	2,170	2,323	2,904	2,751
Greenwich	2,460	2,365	2,284	2,330	2,330	2,366	2,541	2,601
Hackney	2,434	1,999	2,180	2,292	4,964	3,984	2,364	2,603
Hammersmith and Fulham	2,009	1,610	1,537	997	1,503	1,348	1,243	940
Islington	1,822	1,786	1,442	156	1,662	2,117	2,375	2,395
Kensington and Chelsea	1,795	1,762	1,839	1,996	1,831	1,719	1,962	1,786
Lambeth	3,932	3,299	3,396	3,245	2,122	2,859	2,276	2,721
Lewisham	2,439	2,543	2,356	2,518	2,522	2,685	5,118	4,016
Southwark	3,276	3,324	3,647	3,482	3,792	4,010	4,280	4,896
Tower Hamlets	2,069	2,435	2,150	2,037	1,951	1,904	1,956	2,180
Wandswoith	1,662	1,685	1,658	1,461	1,771	2,004	2,007	2,002
Westminster	2,265	2,205	2,455	2,190	2,066	2,543	2,584	2,353
Total Inner London	28,607	27,351	26,962	25,090	28,941	30,188	32,091	32,085

Outer London:
Barking and Dagenham	887	820	869	810	809	861	1,018	1,166
Bamet	1,597	1,711	1,977	1,822	2,040	2,177	2,489	2,730
Bexley	625	548	536	475	515	452	718	376
Brent	2,315	2,199	2,291	3,083	390	291	3,170	2,924
Bromley	1,459	1,465	1,213	1,180	1,221	937	784	835
Croydon	2,509	2,622	2,688	2,933	3,032	2,772	3,683	4,101
Ealing	2,651	2,520	2,635	2,888	3,089	3,370	4,293	4,035
Enfield	2,132	1,697	1,709	1,709	1,789	1,940	1,037	2,524
Haringey	2,571	2,843	2,666	2,534	2,460	2,464	2,888	3,193
Harrow	1,126	1,124	876	860	811	709	673	681
Havering	1,731	2,052	2,627	2,554	1,555	1,965	2,514	2,337
Hillingdon	1,830	1,891	1,865	2,053	2,221	1,737	2,242	2,222
Hounslow	1,717	1,833	1,790	1,678	2,183	2,245	2,338	2,392
Kingston upon Thames	681	741	801	963	985	1,198	1,131	972
Merton	1,662	1,707	1,677	1,856	1,429	1,913	2,213	2,156
Newham	1,622	1,911	1,620	1,398	1,749	1,817	1,705	1,587
Redbridge	2,041	1,994	1,868	1,725	1,800	1,832	1,827	1,482
Richmond upon Thames	1,251	1,170	1,082	1,146	1,001	1,426	1,525	1,627
Sutton	792	681	658	728	860	883	902	977
Waltham Forest	2,367	2,522	2,169	1,879	2,478	3,178	2,968	3,288
Total Outer London	33,566	34,051	33,617	34,274	32,417	34,167	40,118	41,605
Total Greater London	62,173	61,402	60,579	59,364	61,358	64,355	72,209	73,690

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the total amount of unpaid council tax in each borough in Greater London in each year since 1997. [214566]

Mr. Raynsford: Consistent information on the level of council tax arrears for individual local authorities is not currently available.

Departmental Expenditure

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the running costs of the Department were in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) electricity, (b) water, (c) gas, (d) telephones, (e) mobile telephones and (f) televisions. [206682]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established in May 2002. Running costs incurred since that date are in the following table. VAT is included where this is appropriate.
(a) Electricity costs incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04

£000

2002–03 2003–04

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister⁽⁴²⁾ 941 886

QEII Conference Centre 229 330

Total 1,170 1,216

⁽⁴²⁾ Including Fire Service College and PINS

£000
	2002–03	2003–04
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister⁽⁴²⁾	941	886
QEII Conference Centre	229	330
Total	1,170	1,216

The increase in electrical consumption is due mostly to a rise in occupational density throughout the estate, which has resulted in increased air conditioning systems and IT equipment use in the buildings.

The energy used in the QEII Conference Centre is dependent on the commercial activities undertaken. Recent refurbishment of the air conditioning systems should improve the Centre's overall efficiency.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is investigating options for reducing energy consumption across the estate. Surveys of the Office of the Deputy

9 Feb 2005 : Column 1582W

Prime Minister's main office buildings are being undertaken and action plans for fuel reduction produced.
(b) Water and sewage costs incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04

£000
2002–03 2003–04

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 29 32

Agencies 107 121

Total 136 153

(c) Gas costs incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04

£000

2002–03 2003–04

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister⁽⁴³⁾ 357 406

QEII Conference Centre 43 62

Total 400 468

⁽⁴³⁾ Including agencies.

£000
	2002–03	2003–04
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister	29	32
Agencies	107	121
Total	136	153

£000
	2002–03	2003–04
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister⁽⁴³⁾	357	406
QEII Conference Centre	43	62
Total	400	468

Increased use of the two gas-fired Combined Heat and Power installations in the HQ estate has also resulted in an increased use of gas. Heating fuel costs have risen by 15 per cent., mainly due to a 9 per cent. increase in gas prices.
(d) Telephony costs incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04

£000

2002–03 2003–04

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 1,073 1,647

Agencies N/a 138

Total 1,073 1,785

£000
	2002–03	2003–04
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister	1,073	1,647
Agencies	N/a	138
Total	1,073	1,785

Information on telephony costs in 2002/03 for agencies of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not available.

9 Feb 2005 : Column 1583W

For part (e) , information on mobile phones used by officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

For part (f) , in 2003–04, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister spent £19,800 on cable and satellite subscriptions. No figures are available for 2002–03.

This answer excludes the buildings occupied by Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Next Section

Index

Home Page