Should poll tax debts be cancelled, MSP committee asks
Views are being sought on the Scottish Government's Community Charge Debt (Scotland) Bill as it begins its parlimentary scrutiny.
Holyrood's Finance Committee has issued its call for evidence on the bill, which seeks to cancel any outstanding liability to pay the community charge ("poll tax"), and any associated debt. It will also make summary warrants and decrees unenforceable in so far as they relate to community charge debt.
MSPs are asking for submissions on both the general purpose of the bill and its financial implications. Ministers have pledged to cover the cost to local authorities of the revenue that they would have expected to recover under existing arrangements. The amount actually recovered across Scotland has fallen in recent years to less than £350,000 in 2013-14.
There is only a short time for responses, as the Government intends to end further debt collection by 1 February 2015. The deadline for the call for evidence is noon on Wednesday 7 January.
Finance Committee convener Kenneth Gibson MSP said: “This bill would remove the final legacy of debts still being pursued 20 years after the poll tax was scrapped. It is important this legislation receives detailed scrutiny and therefore I encourage interested organisations and individuals to submit their views as soon as possible. The Finance Committee will take evidence based on submissions received on 14 January.”