Rates campaigners say parties can still make final decision

The Northern Ireland Fair Rates Campaign have today welcomed concessions won from the government in the House of Lords yesterday evening.

While Lord Smith’s ‘kill the bill’ amendment failed to get passed, the government has promised it will make provision for a cap at £500,000 and 50% improvement in relief for pensioners and people on low incomes.

The Fair Rates Campaign claimed a victory last night, but promised that the campaign is not over as a cap at £500,000 will only benefit around 2,700 households.

The Campaign is now calling for the five main Northern Ireland political parties to make an agreement on St Andrew’s, conditional on a deferment of the new rating system.

The five main parties have expressed deep reservations about the legislation, and last night the Lords pointed to letters they had received from the parties calling for the legislation to be defeated.

The government was forced to lay down a three-line whip with many Labour peers voting without having attended or participated in the debate.

Anne Monaghan, Chairperson of the Fair Rates Campaign, said: “We argued consistently that this was decision which should be taken by our local politicians. We will now be lobbying them over the next three days that any agreement on St. Andrew’s is conditional on a deferment of the introduction of the new rates system.

“We understand that a Miscellaneous Provisions Bill is to be laid before parliament on November 21 containing the details of the St. Andrew’s arrangements. We have commitments in writing from the parties in Northern Ireland that this system should be determined locally. They are morally bound, therefore, to make their agreement to St. Andrew’s conditional on deferment of the new rates system.”

Commenting on last night's meeting at the Lords, NIO Minister David Hanson said that domestic rates could be capped, but only if devolution is restored.

He said it would take £1 million out of government spending, however this would be for devolved politicians to decide.

He continued: "The changes that they wish to see, if they get back into government, are a cap and a better deal for pensioners.

"I'm actually putting in place what the local devolved parties want, but the key to it is they have to be back in power in order to face the consequences of that and to see it through. That is why we won't do it until such time as they've signed up."

(EF)