asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to compensate the churches in Scotland for the loss, with the introduction of the community charge, of the exemption from rates of domestic premises occupied by ministers of religion or priests under section 4 of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962; and if he will make a statement;

I have no such plans. As an essential element of our proposals to replace domestic rates, all adults aged 18 or over will be required to pay a personal community charge and this will, of course, apply to ministers of religion and their families.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the value of the exemption from rates for domestic premises occupied by ministers of religion or priests under section 4 of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962 to churches in Scotland together with the number of properties benefitting from this for the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will give any breakdown on the basis of the value of the exemption or number of premises exempted for the Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic Church and other denominations, respectively.

Information on the value of rates exemptions under section 4 of the 1962 Act is not held centrally.