§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning(a) local authority members who are tenants of the same authority in arrears with their rents and (b) such members in arrears with their rates; and whether he has any proposals to deal with the rent or rate arrears by councillors.
§ Mr. TrippierI have received various representations. It is obviously destructive to effective rent collection if those elected to local authorities do not set an example by not getting in arrears. I am considering whether it would be desirable to introduce arrangements whereby any allowances due to a councillor could be offset against significant sums that that councillor may owe to the authority.