Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales AM Dr Dai Lloyd today challenged New Labour’s First Minister over rapidly rising council tax bills.

Dr Dai Lloyd, the Shadow Minister for Local Government argues that the rise in council tax bills is unfair, particularly for pensioners in Wales:

“Council tax bills have risen by a whopping 186% since 1993 while the state pension has risen by a mere 31% over the same period. These figures are yet more evidence that the property-related council tax is unfair. Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales has consistently called for the abolition of council tax and the introduction of a local income tax.”

Diwedd/Ends

Notes

1. Question to First Minister: Dai Lloyd (South Wales West): Will the First Minister make a statement on Council Tax levels.

2. Figures released by the Halifax on 1st October 2005 showed that council tax bills in Wales had risen by 186%

3. Information on state pensions was taken from a House of Commons library paper, available on request