Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill

As an ex-leader of Cambridge city council, my hon. Friend will be aware that the political cost of the council tax has been substantial over time. Part of that has been caused by the continuation of the Conservative Government’s policy of increasing council tax by more than inflation. At standard spending, in 1993–94 council tax was £492.66, and in 2002–03 it increased to £769.16. It then changed to the assumed national council tax, putatively £1,000.83, which has increased to £1,101.96. That is a 71.9 per cent. increase in the council tax, while inflation has been 34 per cent.—