§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will investigate the incidence of legal actions for non-payment of rates raised by Scottish local authorities in order to ascertain whether the incidence is smaller in local authority areas which permit payment of rates by monthly instalments;
(2) how many local authorities in Scotland allow payment of rates by monthly instalments; and if he will encourage those which do permit monthly instalment payments to take steps to publicise the right to make monthly payments.
§ Mr. William RossScottish rating authorities are required by statute to permit domestic ratepayers—after giving due notice of their intention—to pay rates by not less than 10 instalments. The great majority of rating authorities draw attention to this right in the rates demand note.