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'Poll tax' warning over SNP plan | 'Poll tax' warning over SNP plan |
(31 minutes later) | |
Scottish plans for a local income tax could lead to the sort of unrest Scotland experienced with the poll tax, a law expert has warned. | Scottish plans for a local income tax could lead to the sort of unrest Scotland experienced with the poll tax, a law expert has warned. |
Professor Alan Page told MSPs it was inevitable the courts would have to look at the council tax replacement to avoid public concern over its legality. | Professor Alan Page told MSPs it was inevitable the courts would have to look at the council tax replacement to avoid public concern over its legality. |
Holyrood ministers want to bring forward the 3p local tax in 2011/12. | Holyrood ministers want to bring forward the 3p local tax in 2011/12. |
They insisted that looking into the legal issues formed part of the current consultation on the policy. | They insisted that looking into the legal issues formed part of the current consultation on the policy. |
Prof Page, of Dundee University, told Holyrood's local government committee he thought it was "inevitable" the policy would end up in court. | Prof Page, of Dundee University, told Holyrood's local government committee he thought it was "inevitable" the policy would end up in court. |
"This question of legality will cast a long shadow over the bill until it's effectively settled one way or another," he told MSPs. | "This question of legality will cast a long shadow over the bill until it's effectively settled one way or another," he told MSPs. |
Prof Page went on: "The nightmare scenario would be if you have a situation like the poll tax where people were refusing to pay because they say the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to do this. | Prof Page went on: "The nightmare scenario would be if you have a situation like the poll tax where people were refusing to pay because they say the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to do this. |
"So, I think we need to get that question out of the way." | "So, I think we need to get that question out of the way." |
Ministers are currently consulting on the local tax proposal - but insisted the final version would be competent under Scotland's devolved powers. | |
They are asking whether councils could be given the power to set or vary rates or whether there should be a single, national 3p rate. |
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