Tax reprieve not enough

HOMELESS people who make use of short-stay hostels could gain a partial reprieve from paying the full poll tax.
In a compromise offer made last Friday by Minister of State for the Environment, Lord Caithness, a change to the Local Government Finance Bill has been tabled in the Lords requiring people who use socalled "general purpose" hostels (those not dedicated to treating people for drug abuse or alcoholism) to pay only 20 per cent of the community charge.
"Instead of going through a complicated rebate process, people who use short-stay hostels will only pay on average 15 pence a night," said a spokesman from the Department of the Environment.
Despite the reductions, shortstay "general purpose" hostels such as Providence Row near London's Liverpool Street Station and shelters run by the Salvation Army will be faced with substantial costs as they are forced to pay the charges for itinerant homeless who can't afford them. Such hostels have stressed in the past that they are dependent on voluntary donations and are therefore unable to produce funds for the tax.