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Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the likely impact of council tax revaluation on average council tax bills in real terms in (a) City of York, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England; and if he will make a statement. [224816] Mr. Raynsford: The distribution of dwellings to bands after revaluation will depend on property values as at 1 April 2005 and on decisions yet to be taken on the number and values of council tax bands. The report of the independent inquiry into local government funding by Sir Michael Lyons will inform the Government's decisions on council tax bands. This report is due to be submitted by the end of this year to my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Government have already made clear that the revaluation should not lead to a change in the overall council tax yield and consequently most council tax payers are unlikely to face an increase (or decrease) in their council tax bill as a result of revaluation. There will be a transitional relief scheme to help taxpayers whose properties move to a higher band. Council tax benefit will continue to be available to help those on low incomes with their council tax payments.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1601-2W; 224816

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Council tax Tax rates and bands York Valuation Yorkshire and the Humber

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk