HC Deb 29 January 2002 vol 379 c170W
14. Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the latest estimate is of the percentage increase in council tax planned for 2002–03. [28448]

Mr. Raynsford

Decisions on council tax are for local authorities to take, after consulting with their local electorate and taxpayers.

Only when councils have set their own level of council tax in March will the full national picture about actual levels of council tax be known.

17. Dr. Palmer

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce council tax bands(a) lower than the current minimum and (b) higher than the current maximum. [28452]

Mr. Raynsford

In the Local Government White Paper, we said that we intend to start work on a revaluation of all dwellings in 2005. Ahead of revaluation, we will listen to the views of taxpayers and local government about council tax bands.

We shall introduce legislation to make clear that additional council tax bands can be created without new primary legislation.