CONSERVATIVE Virginia Taylor's attack on Liberal Democrat proposals for local income tax does not propose any alternative to council tax.
It is clear from surveys by Liberal Democrats locally that replacing council tax with a local income tax is popular.
Pensioners are not claiming their rebate because many still consider it as a form of welfare benefit which they are reluctant to claim. They may also be unhappy about the information on their personal circumstances being available to the local authority as well as being put off by the complexity of the claim forms and rules.
Local income tax would do away with the need for rebate since all what would be needed is the completion of an income tax return.
A person would only pay if their income exceed their personal allowance. This means a saving of an estimated £300 million pounds in administration costs, Britain's poorest 10% pay four times more of their income on council tax than the richest 10%.
How embarrassing for the Conservatives they are unable to support a system that saves money and is based on the ability to pay!
ROD KILVERT
Dilwyn, Hereford.
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