To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of charges of around £100 made by certain local authorities when obtaining liability orders in respect of council tax debts; under what circumstances £3 is charged for such an order from a county court; and whether they propose to review the situation. [HL5981]

No assessment has been made. It is a matter for local authorities to decide what level of costs to charge. Regulation 34(7) of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 allows local authorities to charge reasonable costs incurred by the authority in obtaining a liability order to the debtor.

Local authorities enforce council tax through the magistrates’ courts only.