Written questions by Furniss.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the findings of the Money Advice Trust’s Lost in the system report; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is grateful to the Money Advice Trust and the important work carried out by the National Debt line to support people facing financial difficulties.We acknowledge the concerns and issues raised in the report regarding council tax collection and enforcement practices. The Government’s recent consultation on improving and modernising council tax administration was intended to make the system fairer for taxpayers by improving how council tax is collected and enforced. This included seeking views on the time before the full became liable and suggestions on other ways for councils to support vulnerable people in council tax debt before moving to formal enforcement.The Government’s response to the consultation will set out details on any policy recommendations and will be published in due course.

Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish the Government’s response to the Modernising and improving the administration of council tax consultation, and if he will make a statement confirming the Government’s proposed approach to the consultation’s recommendations on reforming liability order timeframes.

The Government is grateful to the Money Advice Trust and the important work carried out by the National Debt line to support people facing financial difficulties.We acknowledge the concerns and issues raised in the report regarding council tax collection and enforcement practices. The Government’s recent consultation on improving and modernising council tax administration was intended to make the system fairer for taxpayers by improving how council tax is collected and enforced. This included seeking views on the time before the full became liable and suggestions on other ways for councils to support vulnerable people in council tax debt before moving to formal enforcement.The Government’s response to the consultation will set out details on any policy recommendations and will be published in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to remove the sanction of imprisonment for non-payment of Council Tax in England as part of wider proposed sentencing reforms.

The sanction of imprisonment for non-payment of council tax only applies where the court is satisfied that non-payment is due to wilful refusal to pay or culpable neglect. A person cannot be imprisoned for being unable to pay their council tax. The government is currently consulting on modernising and improving the administration of council tax, and this includes seeking views on changes to how councils collect and enforce council tax. The government will publish its response to the consultation in due course.