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Kirsty slams Tory opposition to lower council tax for our service personnel
February 25, 2010 12:00 AM
Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon and Radnorshire has criticised the decision by the Conservatives to oppose drawing down more powers on sustainable housing that will also prevent the Welsh Government from introducing legislation to give serving members of the armed forces a 50% reduction in their Council Tax as currently happens in England.
The Minister for Social Justice and Local Government pledged in the Assembly on 7th October 2009 that he would legislate to give service personnel a 50% discount on their Council Tax. That promise came after all-party pressure for equal treatment for members of the armed forces from Wales compared with their English colleagues.
However, to give effect to this promise it was necessary to draw down additional powers, a request which was contained in the Sustainable Housing Legislative Competence Order (LCO) being debated by the Assembly today and which the Tories have opposed.
Kirsty said: "There are no shades of grey in the decision of the Tories to vote against this request for powers. They may not be happy about proposed changes to the right to buy but the appropriate place to oppose these is when a measure is in front of the Assembly. The fact is that today, they have voted to prevent the Assembly legislating on homelessness, on housing tenure and on giving our service personnel a fair deal on Council Tax. For a party who supposedly support our armed forces that is a disgraceful position for the Tories to take."
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