SCOTTISH Green MSPs will launch a Holyrood bid to wipe out “unpayable” decades-old council tax debts.

At present, council tax debts in Scotland are only written off after 20 years, unlike the six-year cut-off in England, which would be adopted if a Green amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Bill is accepted.

Anti-poverty groups have long argued for greater relief from public debt, which Aberlour argue can “trap families in a cycle of poverty, through seized benefits, missed payments, new loans and extortionate interest.”

Urging MSPs to back his amendment, Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer said: “Scotland’s system for collecting council tax debts is far harsher than England’s. It traps families in decades-long cycles of poverty and it needs to end.

“My amendment would wipe out unpayable historic debts and help families who currently live in fear of every knock at the door. I hope that he and the Scottish government will give it their backing this week.

“Together we can end this scandal and let the people affected get their lives back on track.

“It’s time for Parliament to wipe out these toxic debts.”