To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to help billing authorities improve the collection rates of (a) council tax and (b) business rates; and if she will ask the Audit Commission to initiate an investigation following the recent Office of Fair Trading report. (204505)

The collection of council tax and business rates is a matter for local authorities. In 2006-07 billing authorities across England collected 96.9 per cent. of all council tax and 98.7 per cent. of national non-domestic rates. It is not clear which OFT report the hon. Member is referring.