Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill

My hon. Friend, who is an acknowledged expert in valuation, makes a valid point, which brings me on to the next myth that the Conservatives have been trying to peddle—the idea that somehow or other, one’s council tax band is based on an absolute and not a relative value. Many hon. Members will be familiar with the differences in house, flat and apartment prices between Westminster and their own constituencies. Are we to say that council tax should be based on absolute and not relative prices? I do not think so, yet that is the rather cynical myth that was perpetuated by the Conservative party in the run-up to the general election. It explains their U-turn of spring this year and it explains why they are now in a complete mess in respect of one of the most important domestic policy issues that we face. I shall reply to some of the other points that have been made in what has been a very interesting debate. The hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar said that it was an established fact that prices have aligned across the country. He also repeated what he has said elsewhere that the variations in price would mean that revaluation would cause chaos. Both statements cannot be true. Either prices have aligned, which would mean no turbulence would be caused by revaluation, or we would need revaluation because prices have not aligned. Which is it? I suspect that the answer depends on which camp one is talking to, and it will be interesting to see the result. The Conservatives also suggested that Northern Ireland was a guinea pig. That is another urban myth and completely misunderstands the point that Northern Ireland is moving from a rental to a capital base for its property tax. One does not hear the Conservatives’ point made by Members from Northern Ireland, and I suspect that it is made for entirely political reasons. The hon. Gentleman also claimed that council tax benefit take-up has declined during this Government’s term. Well, I agree, but I find the answer as to why in TheMail on Sunday.