§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to allow councils to write off poll tax debts after April 1992 for people in hardship and where the cost of recovery exceeds the money owing or likely to be collected; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Robin SquireNo. It is for local authorities to decide their own policies on write-offs in line with good financial practice and with the approval of their external auditor.