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Alex Salmond announces plan to block poll tax collection Alex Salmond announces plan to block poll tax collection
(35 minutes later)
The Scottish government will bring in new laws to stop councils pursuing people for historic poll tax debts.The Scottish government will bring in new laws to stop councils pursuing people for historic poll tax debts.
First Minister Alex Salmond announced the move after it emerged local authorities were using the electoral register to chase outstanding bills.First Minister Alex Salmond announced the move after it emerged local authorities were using the electoral register to chase outstanding bills.
The poll tax, or community charge, was introduced to Scotland in April 1989 and replaced by council tax in 1993.The poll tax, or community charge, was introduced to Scotland in April 1989 and replaced by council tax in 1993.
Mr Salmond told MSPs it was misguided for councils to use current records to chase debts from decades ago.Mr Salmond told MSPs it was misguided for councils to use current records to chase debts from decades ago.
The local government body Cosla has said all councils have an obligation to collect outstanding money.The local government body Cosla has said all councils have an obligation to collect outstanding money.
The Scottish independence referendum, last month, prompted a large increase in the number of people registering to vote.The Scottish independence referendum, last month, prompted a large increase in the number of people registering to vote.
Speaking during first minister's questions in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Salmond said that, more than 20 years since the poll tax came to an end, the expanded electoral roll should not be used to claim those unpaid debts.Speaking during first minister's questions in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Salmond said that, more than 20 years since the poll tax came to an end, the expanded electoral roll should not be used to claim those unpaid debts.
What was the poll tax?
Officially known as the community charge, the poll tax was introduced to replace the rates system - regarded by many as unfair because it was based on the value of people's homes, rather than their ability to pay.
The poll tax, which was a flat-rate charge, was regarded by the UK Conservative government as a fairer alternative, especially in Scotland, where a revaluation of house values meant some faced big tax hikes.
In 1989 the tax was introduced to Scotland before the rest of the country. But the move resulted in wide-scale protests, partly because people felt they were being used as "guinea pigs" ahead of the roll-out of something which proved to be deeply unpopular.
The community charge was replaced by council tax in 1993.
To this day, local authorities still have outstanding poll tax debts, although a number of councils decided to write them off.
He added: "It is, of course, within the law for councils to use current information to assess current council tax liability and, given the council tax reduction scheme protects 500,000 of our poorest citizens, the tax is being applied in a proper and fair way.He added: "It is, of course, within the law for councils to use current information to assess current council tax liability and, given the council tax reduction scheme protects 500,000 of our poorest citizens, the tax is being applied in a proper and fair way.
"However, the relevance of information from the current electoral register to the position of debts from 25 years ago is difficult to fathom, except through some misguided political intention.""However, the relevance of information from the current electoral register to the position of debts from 25 years ago is difficult to fathom, except through some misguided political intention."
The unpopular poll tax, which replaced the rates system, was introduced by the Conservative Thatcher government in Scotland before the rest of the country, sparking protests on the streets.The unpopular poll tax, which replaced the rates system, was introduced by the Conservative Thatcher government in Scotland before the rest of the country, sparking protests on the streets.
Mr Salmond said the total collected in 2013 from poll tax debt in Scotland was £396,000.Mr Salmond said the total collected in 2013 from poll tax debt in Scotland was £396,000.
He added: "Therefore, I can announce today it's the government's intention to bring forward legislation to ensure that councils can take no further action to recover ancient poll tax debts.He added: "Therefore, I can announce today it's the government's intention to bring forward legislation to ensure that councils can take no further action to recover ancient poll tax debts.
"After 25 years, it's about time that the poll tax was finally dead and buried in Scotland.""After 25 years, it's about time that the poll tax was finally dead and buried in Scotland."