§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has held recent discussions with local authorities concerning the subject of the reimbursement of poll tax income forgone by those service men and service women serving in the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Allan StewartMy hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 19 February in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot (Mr. Critchley) a special scheme to compensate local authorities for community charge income forgone where service personnel normally resident in their area have been posted to the Gulf. The announcement made it clear that the scheme would apply in Scotland and my Department wrote to all Scottish authorities about the matter on 26 February. I am arranging for a copy of their letter to be placed in the House Library.