David Ruffley MP this week welcomed new proposals to ease the burden of council tax on older people in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket. Under the plans, the next Conservative Government will introduce an automatic 50% discount on council tax bills for those aged 65 and over, up to a maximum of £500. A discount already exists for single person households and many disabled people.

Under the current Government, since 1997, council tax bills in Mid Suffolk and St Edmundsbury for a typical pensioner have risen by over 80 and 90% respectively.

David said:

'THE PROPOSED TAX CUT WILL REDUCE THE YEARLY COUNCIL TAX BILLS FOR UP TO 5,460 SINGLE PENSIONERS AND 3,811 PENSIONER COUPLES AGED 65 AND OVER ACROSS THE BURY ST EDMUNDS PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY, BY £450 AND £500 RESPECTIVELY ON BAND D BILLS. THE TAX CUT WILL NOT BE MEANS-TESTED AND WILL BE ON TOP OF EXISTING DISCOUNTS. IT WILL BE FINANCED BY EXTRA GOVERNMENT GRANT FOR BURY ST EDMUNDS AND STOWMARKET, SO NO GROUP WILL BE FORCED TO PAY HIGHER TAXES TO FINANCE THE REBATE.'

Local Conservatives have also announced their intention to block Government plans for new higher council tax bands and a rigged council tax revaluation, which would mean soaring bills for many households in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket. Local councils will also receive a fully funded deal from central government, backed up with fewer burdens, targets, inspection regimes and red tape to keep council tax bills down for everyone.

'Today pensioners are not shown the respect they deserve. Remember the 75 pence increase in the basic state pension - that tells you all you need to know about Mr Blair's values. Labour have forced nearly half of all pensioners onto means testing- it's wrong and it's complicated. Pensioners should not have to go cap in hand to the state for what they are due.

'The older generation who live on fixed incomes have been particularly hard hit hard by Mr Blair's most punishing stealth tax- the council tax. This is why Conservatives are pledging to fund a council tax cut for older people across Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, and block Labour's plans for third term tax rises.

'And as for the Liberal Democrats, they would simply increase the pain on working families. Under their plans, a typical family would pay £630 a year more. I don't think pensioners want to see their children and grand-children paying more. Pensioners simply want a fair deal, rather than robbing 'Peter to pay Paul'.

'People will face a clear choice at the forthcoming election: Conservatives who will give pensioners dignity, security and respect by increasing the state pension and cutting their council tax - or Mr Blair, who will forget them and raise their council tax.'