§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the position in Wales and Scotland with respect to the responsioilities that employers will have for collecting cash from poll tax defaulters.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerUnder the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989, a Welsh charging authority that has obtained a liability order from a magistrates court may make an attachment of earnings order. This is an order instructing the debtor's employer to make deductions from the debtor's earnings and pay the amounts deducted to the charging authority. The amounts to be deducted will be specified in the attachment of earnings order. The employer may deduct £1 from the debtor's earnings to cover his administrative costs in respect of each deduction. The employer is required to notify the charging authority if the debtor leaves his employment.
The position in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.