§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent guidelines given to local authorities by his officials concerning the payment of the poll tax by those serving in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Allan StewartScottish Office finance circular No. 4/1991 advised local authorities of a scheme to compensate authorities for community charge income forgone where service personnel normally resident in their area were posted to the Gulf. A copy of that circular was placed in the Library. In addition, the Government have introduced a reimbursement scheme to ensure that service personnel and associated civilians do not have to bear the cost of the community charge for the period of their service in the Gulf. The Ministry of Defence is responsible for administering the scheme under which payments are made to individuals, on application, for the amount of the community charge that they were or are liable to pay while in the Gulf. The Scottish Office Environment Department has written to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities advising it of the scheme.