COUNCIL TAX POVERTY

Motion Text

That this House notes with concern that the burden of council tax has risen from ú10.1 billion in 1996-97 to ú14.7 billion in 2001-02, an increase of over 45 per cent; further notes that the burden of council tax falls disproportionately on pensioner households; expresses alarm at the sharp increase from 550,000 in 1998-99 to 720,000 in 1999-2000 in the number of pensioner households spending more than 10 per cent. of their expenditure on council tax after deducting any discounts or benefits; fears that with the sharp increases in council tax in 2000-01 and 2001-02 the number of retired households in fuel tax poverty now exceeds one million; and calls upon the Government to take urgent action to eliminate the scourge of council tax poverty among pensioners.