§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many claimants in Scotland who have not paid their poll tax (i) have had their benefit deducted or (ii) are currently subject to procedures designed to reclaim poll tax arrears; and if he will provide whatever information is available to him for a breakdown by their(a) income level, (b) category of claimant and (c) amount of deduction of benefit.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe latest figure available of the number of claimants in Scotland who have had deductions made from their income support as a contribution towards their community charge arrears is 760. The maximum deduction which can be made is 5 per cent. of the personal allowance for either a single person or a couple. The other information requested is not held centrally.