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Nice area tax claim 'is nonsense' Nice area tax claim 'is nonsense'
(4 days 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.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."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.