§ MR. WEIRTo ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that some rate collectors claim arrears of rates for periods extending back upwards of ten years after the rates for the current year have been paid; and, seeing that it not infrequently happens that receipts, except for quite recent years, have been destroyed, can he see his way to recommend local authorities to adopt some more satisfactory system of collection.
(Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) The Local Government Board for Scotland state that they are not aware that 860 any rate collectors follow the practice referred to by the hon. Member. Arrears of assessment are usually either recovered or written off as irrecoverable before the lapse of ten years. Without information as to cases of hardship, I am not prepared to make any recommendation to local authorities on the subject.