HC Deb 22 June 1988 vol 135 cc578-9W
Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in 1989–90 in any situation, any person in a household will be responsible for the payment of the community charge which any other person in that household is liable to pay.

Mr. Lang

Under section 8(7) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 people who are married to each other and live together or, a man and woman who live together as if they were husband and wife, will be jointly and severally liable for their personal community charges. An amendment has also been made to the Local Government Finance Bill to make it clear that in the case of the standard and collective community charges where two or more people are liable, as would arise in the case of joint owners or tenants, they should be jointly and severally liable to pay the charges.