asked the Minister for the Environment the number of rate collectors employed by local authorities in each of the years 1978 to 1985; the amount in salaries or wages paid to these rate collectors together with any other benefits in kind; the amount of moneys collected by way of rates by these rate collectors during each of the said years; and if he will give a description of the duties carried out by the various rate collectors in each of the said years and the duties currently being undertaken by them.
Written Answers. - Rate Collectors.
594.
The number of rate collectors employed by local authorities at 31 December of each of the years 1978 to 1983, the latest available date, on the basis of information supplied by local authorities is set out in the table below. The figures do not include the grades of revenue collector or rent/rate collector.
|
31 December |
No. of rate collectors |
|
1978 |
493 |
|
1979 |
443 |
|
1980 |
413 |
|
1981 |
378 |
|
1982 |
367 |
|
1983 |
351 |
The salaries and expenses of rate collectors vary not only from local authority to local authority but even within individual local authorities. Consequently the time required for compilation of the requisite information would be disproportionate.
The figures of local authority rates receipts as indicated in the most recently published "Returns of Land Taxation 1981" are set out in the table below. The returns do not indicate how much of this money is collected by rate collectors and how much by other means.
|
Outturn for year |
Rates receipts (£million) |
|
1978 |
81.921 |
|
1979 |
90.436 |
|
1980 |
102.840 |
|
1981 |
102.170 |
|
Estimated Outturn for |
|
|
year |
|
|
1982 |
92.623 |
|
1983 |
104.073 |
The duties of rate collectors are set out in the particulars of office approved for the offices concerned.
These particulars of office provide that the duties are those prescribed by statute as well as such duties as may be assigned by the local authority.