Dundee SNP

The value of the continuing Council Tax Freeze for ordinary households was underlined today at Holyrood when Cabinet Secretary for Finance John Swinney revealed that the average Band D council tax payer in Dundee would have been paid more than £212 extra over the three year period of the freeze.

The Minister was responding to a question from Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick.

Joe FitzPatrick said: “I asked the Cabinet Secretary how much more the average family in Dundee would be expected to pay if Council Tax had been increased by a comparatively modest 3% each year since 2007.

“Since the introduction of the Council Tax, it had increased by 100% under Conservative and Labour Governments, and throughout that period there had been double-digit increases. 

“Today’s figures from the Cabinet Secretary show how much help this has provided to families and households since 2007.

“The average Band D council tax payer is  £212 per year better-off with the Council Tax freeze.”

Commenting after the meeting, Shona Robison, Dundee East MSP said: “Labour and Conservative MSPs have regularly demanded that we should end the Council Tax Freeze – but this shows how wrong such demands are. No-one would want to return to the old days under Labour and Tory Governments and Labour Councils when your Council Tax went up and up, every single year.

“Of course, we now have final proof of the value of the Council Tax Freeze with the Con-Lib Dem Coalition at Westminster now planning to establish a similar Council Tax Freeze in  England.

“That wouldn’t be happening if the policy had not been such a big success in Scotland.”

The value of the continuing Council Tax Freeze for ordinary households was underlined today at Holyrood when Cabinet Secretary for Finance John Swinney revealed that the average Band D council tax payer in Dundee would have paid more than £212 extra over the three year period of the freeze.

The Minister was responding to a question from Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick.

Joe FitzPatrick said: “I asked the Cabinet Secretary how much more the average family in Dundee would be expected to pay if Council Tax had been increased by a comparatively modest 3% each year since 2007.

“Since the introduction of the Council Tax, it had increased by 100% under Conservative and Labour Governments, and throughout that period there had been double-digit increases. 

“Today’s figures from the Cabinet Secretary show how much help this has provided to families and households since 2007.

“The average Band D council tax payer is  £212 better-off with the Council Tax freeze.”

Commenting after the meeting, Shona Robison, Dundee East MSP said: “Labour and Conservative MSPs have regularly demanded that we should end the Council Tax Freeze – but this shows how wrong such demands are. No-one would want to return to the old days under Labour and Tory Governments and Labour Councils when your Council Tax went up and up, every single year.

“Of course, we now have final proof of the value of the Council Tax Freeze with the Con-Lib Dem Coalition at Westminster now planning to establish a similar Council Tax Freeze in  England.

“That wouldn’t be happening if the policy had not been such a big success in Scotland.”

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick, speaking in the debate on the Scottish Government’s Draft Budget today, secured confirmation from Finance Secretary John Swinney, that continuation of the Council Tax freeze remains a key economic measure in the forthcoming Budget.

Speaking in the debate after the Ministerial Statement, Joe FitzPatrick said: “I particularly welcome the Cabinet secretary’s confirmation that measures which are helping families and businesses get through the recession such as small business bonus and the council tax freeze will be continued in this budget.

“And can I ask the Finance Secretary to comment on the evidence given to the local government committee by Dundee City Council’s Director of Finance, David Dorward, when commenting on previous council tax freezes, who said;

‘Not having the freeze would have caused council tax increases of not 3 per cent per annum but approximately 5 per cent per annum.’”

In response to the Dundee MSP, the Cabinet Secretary said: “The point I would make is that without the Council Tax freeze at a time when many families and individuals are reducing their working hours, facing freezes in salary or even salary cuts, families and individuals would be struggling even more than they are.

“This is not the time to be increasing the Council Tax and there would have to be a significant increase to fill for Council resources not available for support from Government. I think to protect household income at a time when we all recognise household income is fragile is what would be expected of this Government.”

Commenting on today’s news that council tax south of the border will increase by an average of 3% compared to Scotland where it is frozen SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – pointed to the difference as an example of how the SNP Government is delivering for Scotland whilst Labour’s government fails south of the border.

The figures for south of the border were revealed in a survey of councils in England by the Local Government Association.

Commenting Mr FitzPatrick said:

“This survey highlights Labour’s lack of answers when it comes to helping people in these hard economic times. It also stands as an example of how things could have been if Labour were still in power in Scotland.

“Thankfully we have an SNP Government delivering another council tax freeze for the people of Scotland and to freezing council tax for the next two years as well. A freeze that will help them keep more of their own money in these uncertain economic times .

“Since the SNP came in to Government we have seen council tax frozen after years of increases under Labour. News that it continues to rise south of the border show s a Labour government failing to meet the needs of people south of the border.

“This survey just shows the benefits voting SNP has brought to people in Scotland and that Labour is out of touch.”

UK GOVERNMENT TRUMPETS SNP ECONOMY ACTION

SNP Treasury spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, has welcomed the launch of the UK Government’s “real help now” website by Prime Minister Gordon Brown today (Monday) – the website lists SNP Government action, such as the Council Tax freeze and flexible business support, as key efforts being taken to help the economy through the recession.

Visitors to the website who wish to see what action the UK Government is taking for Scotland are redirected to the Scottish Government website, and a BBC story about the Council Tax freeze by Edinburgh City Council’s SNP-led administration.

Mr Hosie said:

”Gordon Brown’s enthusiasm for the Scottish Government’s economic recovery programme is certainly welcome, if not a little confusing.

”Over the weekend the Chancellor accused the SNP of ignoring the economic realities, and today the Prime Minister launches a website praising the action being taken by the SNP Government.

“The Prime Minister’s apparent backing for the action being taken by the Scottish Government will be a huge embarrassment for Iain Gray who has again been left looking ridiculous by his London masters.

”If Gordon Brown is serious about tackling the economic crisis then he should start by ruling out Labour’s planned cuts to public spending in Scotland which would be so damaging in the teeth of recession.

“The Scottish Government put forward responsible plans to win parliamentary approval to spend Scotland’s budget allocation over three years.

“For the UK Government to then come in and plan to chop £1 billion off is totally unacceptable – especially at a time when Scotland is in budget surplus, contributing far more to the UK exchequer than we get back in return.

The value of the SNP’s council tax freeze has been highlighted today after a new survey showed that councils in England will raise council tax by 3.5 – 4%.

The above inflation increase is a stark contrast to the fully funded council tax freeze being offered by the SNP Government for the second year in a row.

SNP MSP for Dundee West Joe FitzPatrick said:

“These rises in England show how important the SNP Government’s offer of a council tax freeze is.

“For the second year in a row the SNP is helping households across Scotland keep their bills down and make it through the tough times ahead.

“The increases in council tax in England are a stark reminder of the decade of council tax rises suffered under Labour and a reminder of why the unfair council tax must be scrapped.

“The Scottish Government is putting in £70 million to fund this tax freeze.

“Alongside further reductions in prescription charges and slashing business rates to zero for 120,000 businesses the SNP is working hard to put money in people’s pockets.

“With increased investment announced in hospitals, dental centres, transport and enterprise projects and affordable housing to maintain jobs in construction and a budget that targets economic growth the SNP is taking action to ensure Scotland can weather the economic downturn.”