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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Nice area tax claim 'is nonsense' | Nice area tax claim 'is nonsense' |
| (1 day later) | |
| The government has issued a strongly worded denial of Conservative claims it plans to base council tax in England on how "nice" areas are. | The government has issued a strongly worded denial of Conservative claims it plans to base council tax in England on how "nice" areas are. |
| Local government minister Phil Woolas said it was "nonsense" to say a system being trialled in Northern Ireland would be adopted in England. | Local government minister Phil Woolas said it was "nonsense" to say a system being trialled in Northern Ireland would be adopted in England. |
| But the Tories have refused to accept the denials and claim ministers will base rates on quality of life factors. | But the Tories have refused to accept the denials and claim ministers will base rates on quality of life factors. |
| "England is clearly next," said shadow minister Caroline Spelman. | "England is clearly next," said shadow minister Caroline Spelman. |
| In a letter to newspapers who carried the story earlier this week, Mr Woolas says: "These reports claim that the level of council tax could be determined by a bizarre array of factors, including how many neighbours wear contact lenses, which newspapers are read, and the number of 'well educated' neighbours you have, amongst others. | In a letter to newspapers who carried the story earlier this week, Mr Woolas says: "These reports claim that the level of council tax could be determined by a bizarre array of factors, including how many neighbours wear contact lenses, which newspapers are read, and the number of 'well educated' neighbours you have, amongst others. |
| "This is of course complete nonsense and amounts to nothing more than disgraceful scaremongering which must have made many people, including the elderly and vulnerable, needlessly frightened." | "This is of course complete nonsense and amounts to nothing more than disgraceful scaremongering which must have made many people, including the elderly and vulnerable, needlessly frightened." |
| 'Testing ground' | 'Testing ground' |
| He said Northern Ireland was moving towards a system based on property values, but there was no "read across" to England because it had a different local government system. | He said Northern Ireland was moving towards a system based on property values, but there was no "read across" to England because it had a different local government system. |
| "It is absolute nonsense to suggest the government is using the current revaluation in Northern Ireland as a testing ground in England," Mr Woolas adds in his letter. | "It is absolute nonsense to suggest the government is using the current revaluation in Northern Ireland as a testing ground in England," Mr Woolas adds in his letter. |
| But Ms Spelman said: "It is a matter of fact that a new house price is being introduced in Northern Ireland in April and new powers have been given to state inspectors to enter people's homes. | |
| "The government has told Parliament in answers to parliamentary questions that new computer systems will change the level of tax depending on the type of neighbourhood you live in. | |
| "No one believes what the government says, given what is happening in one part of the United Kingdom. England is clearly next." | "No one believes what the government says, given what is happening in one part of the United Kingdom. England is clearly next." |
| The government is carrying out a comprehensive review of the system, led by Sir Michael Lyons, which is due to report in December. | The government is carrying out a comprehensive review of the system, led by Sir Michael Lyons, which is due to report in December. |
| Northern Ireland does not have council tax - rates will be paid on the basis of the value of domestic property from April 2007. | Northern Ireland does not have council tax - rates will be paid on the basis of the value of domestic property from April 2007. |