§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will seek to confer powers of arrestment of wages on local authorities in Scotland similar to those available to local authorities in England and Wales in respect of the collection of poll tax from persons evading payment but able to pay.
§ Mr. RifkindThe powers available to local authorities to pursue arrears of community charge from a debtor by means of an earnings arrestment are those which are already available to a range of creditors under the terms of the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987. I do, of course, keep all aspects of the community charge under review, but I have no plans at present to amend these provisions as they relate to community charge arrears cases.