Scottish Diligence Statistics 2022-23

Non-earnings arrestments were the most used process for the Summary Warrant for council tax debts. Together with earnings arrestments, these accounted for almost all diligence processes.

There were 188,305 non-earnings arrestments served under Summary Warrant for council tax debts in 2022-23. This is a 6.6% decrease when compared with the previous year. Of all diligences executed under this warrant procedure, 78.3% were non-earnings arrestments.

Earnings arrestments were the second most used diligence process (21.7%). This has decreased by 2.9% when compared to 2021-22. A very small number of other processes were also used for this warrant procedure, these were attachments.

Chart 3 compares arrestments for Summary Warrant for council tax debts over time. This chart shows non-earnings arrestments remain the most used diligence process since 2011-12.

Other Summary Warrant procedure includes diligences for other central and local government debt. Non-earnings arrestments were again the most used diligence process under Other Summary Warrant. There were 5,150 diligences excuted under Other Summary Warrant. There were 4,360 non-earnings arrestments (84.7%) with the rest being earnings arrestments (12.5%) or attachments (2.8%).

Around 2.0% of total diligences executed were under Other Summary Warrant procedure. Diligences using this procedure have increased by 6.8% when compared to 2021-22. This is mostly due to changes in attachments.