Council Tax: Support Schemes

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe Excerpts

Thursday 12th June 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

This particular programme saved £414 million last year.

[Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab)]

As the Government try to minimise the gap that is being created between the wealthy and those at the other end, how can they justify people having a council tax freeze—people such as myself and others in this Chamber who could quite easily pay the appropriate amount without a freeze?

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

As the noble Lord knows, council tax is set by local authorities, and local authorities should be trying to reduce the burden of council tax on all local taxpayers and increase the quality of their services. That is what many are doing and that is a good thing.