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Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost was of operating the local government council tax system in each of the last five years for which records are available, broken down by (a) administration, (b) valuation, (c) appeals, (d) council tax benefit administration and (e) other costs. [139157] Mr. Raynsford: Local authorities in England reported council tax collection costs and council tax benefit administration costs in the last five years are tabled below. Administration, valuation and appeals costs are not reported separately. £ million _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Council tax collection costs Council tax benefit administration costs 1999-2000 309.6 216.7 2000-01 301.5 194.8 2001-02 301.1 218.7 2002-031 319.1 204.5 2003-041 2337.0 235.7 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Budgeted figures. 2 In 2003-04, council tax collection costs may include a small amount of NDR, rate (domestic and non-domestic) and community charge collection costs. Source: 1999-2000 to 2001-02 Revenue Summary Returns. 2002-03 to 2003-04 Budget Estimate Returns.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

139157; 413 c532W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Council tax benefits Appeals Administration Costs Council tax Valuation Tax collection Operating costs

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk