Plan to withhold entitlements from those in tax arrears

Serious consideration was given to a controversial scheme to exclude people in arrears with payments of taxes, statutory contributions and other levies from all types of public services including social welfare payments.

The government set up a cross-department working group in 1983 to consider the practicability of withholding a range of state payments from tax defaulters.

Documents show the government wished to take specific action against farmers who did not pay health contributions.