asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the difference, in both percentage and cash terms, between the rate poundage multiplied by the rateable value of domestic property in Scotland after allowing for relevant relief from rates, and the actual amount of domestic rates collected by local authorities; and if he will give a comparable estimate of the efficiency of the proposed system of community charges.

The information requested about the actual amount collected as domestic rates is not available. Estimates of the effect of the proposed community charge have used the working assumption that the yield of the community charge will be broadly equivalent to the yield of the domestic rate.