Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill

This has been an interesting and lengthy debate and I do not propose to detain Members longer than is necessary, but it is important to point out what has happened in Wales. Although I appreciate that, given the terms of this Bill, I am not entitled to stray too much into Welsh territory, I should nevertheless make it clear that the revaluation process in Wales indicates what might happen in England, should it take place there. It has been suggested by Labour Members that the difference between the revaluation envisaged for England and that which took place in Wales is that the former would be revenue-neutral. As my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mr. Crabb) pointed out, however, assurances were given by Welsh Assembly Ministers that the Welsh revaluation would also be revenue-neutral. In fact, the Assembly’s Finance Minister said:"““I emphasise that revaluation is not a euphemism for increasing council tax.””" Well, the experience in Wales is that there was an increase in council tax, and as my hon. Friend pointed out, the tax take increased by more than 9 per cent. post-valuation. As the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Mr. Williams) pointed out, the Welsh experience was exacerbated by re-banding, but the outcome of the re-banding-revaluation exercise in Wales is that for many people on fixed incomes, particularly retired people, the annual council tax demand has become an object of dread. In one ward in my constituency, for example, some 40 per cent. of homes have been re-banded upwards. The proposal that we are discussing today is based on the Welsh experience. The Welsh have undoubtedly been used as guinea pigs, and the hard fact is that the Government have seen what has happened in Wales and do not like the consequences. They fear the political consequences in England. The hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Graham Stringer) pointed out that people have not been manning the barricades. They certainly have not been doing so in Colwyn bay—