COUNCIL TAX IN CORNWALL AND DEVON

Early day motion 1714, tabled 18 September 2003 by Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 9 members.

That this House notes that as a result of unfair grant funding for Devon and Cornwall over the years from both Conservative and Labour Governments, and the imposition of new duties on local councils, council tax in the region has reached an unaffordable level for many people, especially pensioners and those on low incomes; further notes that the richest fifth of people in the UK pay on average just 1.4 per cent. of their income in council tax while the poorest fifth pay on average 4.7 per cent. of their income and some low income pensioners and others pay as much as 10 per cent.; believes that council tax is an unfair tax because it is unrelated to ability to pay; and calls on the Government to scrap the council tax and replace it with a fair local income tax so that no one will pay more than they can afford.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 9.