Randerson urges Minister to ease burden of Council Tax on poorest people.

3.28.41pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 10th Oct 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat Finance and Local Government Spokesperson, Jenny Randerson AM has challenged the Assembly Government to help lessen the impact on the less well off caused by the unfair and regressive council tax. Jenny called on the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government to ensure that more was done by his Government to increase the take-up of benefits designed to lessen the impact of Council Tax upon the poorest people.

Jenny Randerson said: "The council tax is the most unfair tax of all. It penalises the elderly and less well off in Wales. While Labour and Plaid seem to be ensuring that Council Tax is here to stay, the least that they can do is make sure that people know about the benefits and reliefs that they may be entitled to.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats are committed with doing away with this tax entirely, which is why I also challenged the Minister to ensure that it was reviewed by the Commission looking at Assembly finance. As long as Labour and Plaid keep Council Tax in place, I will continue to press for more to be done to increase the take-up of the benefit and reliefs targeted at the less well off.