§ 22. Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has had from organisations concerned with mental health regarding the poll tax.
§ Mr. LangWe have received a number of responses to our consultation document of 22 October on the procedure for identifying severely mentally handicapped people to be exempted from liability to pay the community charge. All the representations will be fully considered.
§ 23. Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed the poll tax with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
§ Mr. LangMy right hon. and learned Friend and I met the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities last Friday to discuss local government finance. At that meeting we announced the provision of additional resources to cover capital expenditure on the implementation of the community charge, both this year and next. My officials are in regular contact with the convention about the implementation of our proposals.
§ 60. Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the increase in student grants in the first year of operation of the poll tax will be for their poll tax contribution, and how much for the normal yearly increase.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 provides that students undertaking a full-time course of education will be liable192W to pay only 20 per cent. of the community charge. That liability will not arise until 1989–90 and the detailed arrangements for students' grants in that year have not yet been determined.