WATER
RATES, DOMESTIC RATES AND PENSIONS
Before
you decide pensions is nothing to do with YOU. Think on! Pensions will sooner, or later, sometimes unexpectedly sooner affect
everyone. The Rates and Water Rates fallout will be a closely related item to pensions at the time you have to live on one.
Strong
public opposition to the new rating system based on your house capital value, has been the focus of recent debates. Many including
myself argued for a system based on ability to pay. Moreover it was felt that all residents who had earnings should contribute.
In short a Local Income Tax, which being much fairer, also eases the burden on the single householder paying for everyone.
He/ She could easily have the lowest income in the household. As in ordinary Income Tax those exempt would pay no local tax
either. At the Ulster Hall the Minister in a debate flatly turned down putting a cap to protect higher rate payers. He stated
to do so would be unfair to the less well off.
Subsequently
at the St Andrews
talks, a side deal was done and a cap was inserted. One up for the rich! It is up to you to inquire if your
MLA or MP or Party supported this scandalous deal and demand it be removed before March 31st. We had a vote in
the Ulster Hall, out of hundreds attending ONE person voted that the Governments proposals were fair.
Over
at Westminster rules obliged me to lobby my own MP. CWU members
living on the mainland had the luxury of lobbying CWU sponsored MP‘s. I put the case strongly
for a substantial rise in State Pensions NOW.
Whilst
we are totally opposed to means testing, I raised another point which has a strong bearing on this issue. If the Government
are so hell bent on Means Testing,
Why then
does the test not apply AFTER compulsory deductions such as rates and water charges? This point will be especially noted by
people on small public service pensions when the new rating system is applied this spring.
The big
question is, CAN THE GOVERNMENT AFFORD FAIR PENSIONS? The answer is a definite YES. The National Insurance Fund was set up
specifically to fund pensions and benefits. However that fund was set up in the days of a real Labour Government with Socialist
Ministers. Currently there is £35 billion in this fund. It increases by almost £1 billion pounds per month. This would easily
provide a decent rise in pensions without increasing taxation. Instead, the Government not only holds on to our pension money
but indeed they are creaming off the enormous interest generated to use for their own purposes.
The next
UK election is expected to be close run.
So pensioners could just have the muscle to decide if fairness is to come to the top of the agenda. Make sure your MP and
MLA knows this.
John
Black
Section
Secretary (Retired)
