To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average level of council tax has been in rural areas in each year from 1997 to 2005. (78207)

The average level of band D council tax in rural areas since 1997-98 is tabled as follows. A district is classified as a rural area if it falls within category “Rural-50” or “Rural-80” of the rural definition and local authority classification published by Defra in 2005 (www.statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/rural_resd/rural_definition.asp).

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the additional council tax revenue raised by local authorities as a result of setting second home council tax discounts lower than 50 per cent. in 2005-06. (78283)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) on 4 May 2006, Official Report, column 1803W.