St Andrews rates cap is still not a fair system - Alliance

11.33.16am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 16th Oct 2006

South Belfast Alliance Representative, Allan Leonard

Alliance Party South Belfast Representative, Allan Leonard, has hit out at proposals in the St Andrews Agreement package to put a cap on rates, stating that a local income tax is the only fair option.

Allan Leonard said: "A cap on rates is a blunt instrument. It will not directly help older people and those on low incomes. It will mean that everyone in expensive houses will pay the same amount, whether they have very little income or are massive earners.

"The cap is an unhelpful device. Northern Ireland will still have to contribute the same total amount of money through rates. This cap will mean that those in cheaper houses might potentially have to pay more that at present.

"The only fair thing to do would be to scrap rates and replace them with a local income tax. People would be billed based on their ability to pay. This is the Alliance way. This is the fair way forward for all."

ENDS