Is it true that Council Tax

[Ice.Maiden]

is going to be abolished in Scotland? Heard that today.

[Ethel]

No.

It is proposed to stage a referendum about it 2010

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/pol itics/scotland/2673651/Alex-Salmond-plans-to-a bolish-council-tax-in-Scotland-despite-finance -worries.html

[JJy2k]

The SNP want to do this so It will prob happen some time. As usual, it will be the English taxpayer subsidising the scots.

[legend_mark5]

Not untrue

It will be abolished just like prescription charges


scotland leading the way again


d t h?

[Ice.Maiden]

Well if it hapens - good on the Scots. It's a crippling tax for many people.

[Ethel]

It probably won't happen:

"However, they have yet to explain how they will compensate for the loss of �400million of council tax benefit, which Westminster has confirmed will be lost should council tax be abolished. "

It will be replaced by local income tax and listening to the debate on Radio 2 many many Scots will be much worse off under this proposal and are against it.

[Jafi]

JJy2k why would it be the English tax payer subsiding the costs?

Don't you think folks in Scotland pay tax?

[legend_mark5]

Time will tell

[Ethel]

And another quote from that link:

"Whatever Alex Salmond decides to call them, the SNP's tax plans will simultaneously make Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK and damage local services."

[Ice.Maiden]

Oh dear...so maybe not such a good thing after all then? I believe that ALL taxes could be lowered, with no drop in services, if the government stopped wasting piles of our money, and stopped paying M's ridiculous wages and perks!

[Drisgirl]

Charges for Hospital Car Parking are to abolished in Scotland as well (apart from 4 ? hospitals who are privately controlled).

Its true Scotland at least try to lead the way, as we always have albeit, as guinea pigs at times,but to hear the perpetual carping that England subsidises Scotland makes me wonder about that persons political (dis)orientation.

[Ethel]

Re the car park charges - the Scots aren't necessarily happy about that either.

It means at least �5m will have to come off the NHS budget and many many hospital users were saying before the charges were introduced it was impossible to park. Office workers were parked there all day; shoppers used it for free parking and so on.

[Drisgirl]

I can only say that im happy with this change.
Perhaps it will mean that other Government Depts will have to tighten their budgets -no such a thing as a free lunch so to speak.