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MSPs to debate and vote on law to end poll tax debt collection MSPs vote to end poll tax debt collections
(about 5 hours later)
A new law to end the collection of historic poll tax debt in Scotland is expected to be backed by MSPs. A new law to end the collection of historic poll tax debt has been backed by MSPs at Holyrood.
The Community Charge Debt (Scotland) Bill will complete its passage through Holyrood with a final debate and vote. The Community Charge Debt (Scotland) Bill has now completed its parliamentary hurdles.
The bill would effectively write off £425m of unpaid bills relating to the controversial household tax which was introduced by the 1989 Tory government. The new law will effectively write off £425m of unpaid bills relating to the controversial household tax which was introduced by the 1989 Tory government.
The Scottish Conservatives are against the new law but the Scottish government believes it is the right thing to do. The Scottish Conservatives were against the move but the Scottish government said it was the right thing to do.
The proposal to end the debt collection was brought forward last year by former first minister Alex Salmond after several councils said they would use the details of people who registered to vote in September's independence referendum to recover outstanding payments.The proposal to end the debt collection was brought forward last year by former first minister Alex Salmond after several councils said they would use the details of people who registered to vote in September's independence referendum to recover outstanding payments.
Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "The poll tax was a deeply unfair, regressive levy which should never have been introduced in the first place. Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary John Swinney said ahead of the final debate and vote: "The poll tax was a deeply unfair, regressive levy which should never have been introduced in the first place.
"A Tory government, which Scotland had rejected, imposed the tax on Scotland, and - as was recently confirmed in documents released under the 30-year rule - they were determined that Scotland be a guinea pig for their disastrous tax experiment."A Tory government, which Scotland had rejected, imposed the tax on Scotland, and - as was recently confirmed in documents released under the 30-year rule - they were determined that Scotland be a guinea pig for their disastrous tax experiment.
"Although the poll tax is now defunct, its bitter legacy is still with us. It cannot be right that people fear being on the electoral registers because of decades-old debt relating to a discredited and unjust tax. Nor is it right that some of the few people paying off poll tax debt are the poorest in society.""Although the poll tax is now defunct, its bitter legacy is still with us. It cannot be right that people fear being on the electoral registers because of decades-old debt relating to a discredited and unjust tax. Nor is it right that some of the few people paying off poll tax debt are the poorest in society."
He went on to urge "all MSPs" to vote for the legislation and ensure that the poll tax is "finally consigned to the dustbin of history".
Arrears collected by councils across Scotland fell to £327,000 in 2013-14 and some local authorities have already ceased recovery of the debt.Arrears collected by councils across Scotland fell to £327,000 in 2013-14 and some local authorities have already ceased recovery of the debt.
Councils are to receive a share of £869,000 from the Scottish government in 2015-16, based on what they could still reasonably expect to collect.Councils are to receive a share of £869,000 from the Scottish government in 2015-16, based on what they could still reasonably expect to collect.
Gavin Brown MSP, finance spokesman for the Conservatives, said his party oppose writing off the debt, "not least because it sends completely the wrong message".Gavin Brown MSP, finance spokesman for the Conservatives, said his party oppose writing off the debt, "not least because it sends completely the wrong message".
He added: "It could also encourage people who think they don't have to pay council tax because it will just be written off a few years down the line.He added: "It could also encourage people who think they don't have to pay council tax because it will just be written off a few years down the line.
"We also think it's wrong that councils could be forced to lose out financially, when it's the Scottish government which has imposed this.""We also think it's wrong that councils could be forced to lose out financially, when it's the Scottish government which has imposed this."
What was the poll tax and why was it controversial?What was the poll tax and why was it controversial?