§ Baroness Williams of Crosbyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of their review of powers to ensure that fines are paid without resort to prison, they will request the enforcement and financial penalties working group to examine arrangements to allow for the payment of outstanding local taxes, such as the community charge and council tax, without resort to imprisonment.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)The working group was established to review the enforcement of fines, compensation and costs which are ordered by a court. Local taxes are civil debts collected by local authorities. Their enforcement raises different considerations.