§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider the use only of certificated bailiffs for recovery of council tax arrears;
(2) if he will introduce legislation to apply section 15 of the Court and Legal Services Act 1990 to goods which can be seized by private bailiffs when recovering arrears of council tax.
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§ Mr. KeyNo. The employment of bailiffs is a matter for each local authority to determine. Local authorities will issue their bailiffs with a code of practice. These codes, which control the activities of bailiffs, will include the goods which can be distrained. I consider that this provides sufficient safeguards for both council tax payers and local authorities.