HC Deb 31 January 1990 vol 166 cc211-2W
Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has issued or proposes to issue any regulations or guidance under section 16(1) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Regulation 9 of the Community Charges (Registration) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations makes provision relating to community charge appeals made under section 16(1) of the 1987 Act. The notes prescribed under these regulations informing people of their register entry or an amendment to that entry include information about a person's rights of appeal.

57. Mr. Ron Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many warrant sales have been carried out as a result of poll tax non-payment in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

This information is not held centrally.

52. Mr. Shersby

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an estimate of the amount which a police officer in Scotland will on average have to pay in respect of the personal community charge following abolition of the rates element of the police rent allowance on 31 March.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Like other members of the community, police officers in Scotland have been liable to pay the community charge since April 1989. The level of the charge depends on the area in which they live.

Regulations made last November had the effect of restoring the rates element of rent allowance, on an interim basis, to those officers who were in receipt of rent allowance on 31 March 1989 for such period as their circumstances remain unchanged. Draft regulations now sent to the police negotiating board provide for the sum payable by way of rates on 31 March 1989 to continue to be included in the calculation of an officer's rent allowance and in any transitional rent allowance payable from 1 April 1990.

42. Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his Department's latest estimate of the additional resources required to cover the administrative costs of poll tax collection in Scotland.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Based on the latest local authority figures available, the increase in the administrative costs of collecting the community charge in 1989–90, as against rates collection in 1988–89, is estimated at £14.5 million.