§ 51. Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the certification procedures to determine whether a person's mental impairment is sufficiently severe to enable him or her to be exempt from the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangMy right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of comments on this matter from Members of Parliament and members of the public.
A consultation paper on procedures for identification of those who may be exempt was issued to interested bodies by the Scottish Office on 22 October 1987. A further consultation paper, issued on 16 August 1988, sought views on the requirements for certain benefit entitlements in respect of the exemption. The responses to these consultation papers were taken carefully into account before the promulgation of recommended procedures in NHS circular 1988(GEN)25 and the making of the Personal Community Charge (Exemption for the Severely Mentally Impaired) (Scotland) Regulations 1988.