To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 214W, on council tax, whether local authorities may levy a surcharge on council tax bills paid by credit card. (317571)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 214W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much gross council tax revenue in (a) cash and (b) real terms at 2010 prices was raised in each region in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available. (317868)

The amount of gross council tax revenue in (a) cash and (b) real terms at 2008-09 prices raised in each region in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 2008-09, the most recent year for which figures are available, are shown in the following table.

The data are taken from the Quarterly Return of Council Tax and non-domestic rates returns completed annually by all billing authorities in England and the real terms data are given at 2008-09 prices using the Retail Price Index.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much and what proportion of gross revenue to local authorities from council tax was funded by council tax benefit in 2008-09. (317800)

In 2008-09 the gross revenue to local authorities from council tax was £24.9 billion with £3.5 billion of this figure being from council tax benefit paid to the collection fund. Therefore 14 per cent. of the gross revenue to local authorities from council tax was funded by council tax benefit.