'2 million pensioners left out in the cold by Tories' says Norman Lamb

12.00.00am GMT Wed 2nd Mar 2005

Norman Lamb has poured scorn on Tory Council Tax policy which leaves nearly 2 million pensioners with no help to pay their Council Tax bills - just because they live with someone under 65.

Tory figures, based on statistics from the 2001 census, show that nearly 1 in 5 of English pensioners will not be eligible for the proposed 50% discount - while pensioners in Wales and Scotland will get no help at all.

Norman Lamb said today, "More than 1.2 million pensioners live with someone under 65, and another half a million share their household with 2 or more non-pensioners. Under Tory plans, these pensioners will be paying full Council Tax."

Mr Lamb added, "Many pensioners live with an adult son or daughter who cares for them. Others are married to a younger husband or wife, not yet 65. These households will still have to pay the full whack of Council Tax, regardless of their means."

"This seems totally unfair. Some of the richest pensioners get £500 off their Council Tax but some of the poorest will get nothing. The Tories also risk penalising people who live with their relatives - their policy is anti-family."

Norman Lamb also said, "The Conservatives claim their pensioner discount will solve the Council Tax crisis, but in fact less than half Britain's pensioners will see any benefit."

"A local income tax, based on individual ability to pay, is the fairest alternative to Council Tax. More than 8 million pensioners would benefit Under Lib Dem plans - and half of all pensioners would pay nothing at all."

------------------------------------

Additional information:

• There are 1.2m single pensioners, and 490,000 pensioner couples, who live with adults under 65, according to the 2001 Census. This table is part of the basis for the Conservative costings. www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D7516.xls

• There are 11m pensioners in the UK: www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/pyramids/pages/UK.asp

• The Conservative proposal does not provide any money for pensioners in Scotland or Wales.

• The effect of the Lib Dem Local Income Tax on pensioners has been analysed by the Institute for Fiscal Studies: www.ifs.org.uk/pr/libdem_tax.pdf