AVERAGE families have saved around £1,200 as a result of a long-standing freeze on council tax bills, new figures have revealed.
The Scottish Government estimate on the impact of its policy on those in mid-range properties led the SNP to claim people on the lowest incomes had saved the most as a proportion of their household incomes.
However, opponents pointed out that in cash terms, it was the richest who had benefitted most from a policy that has seen Holyrood pay out £2.5 billion to councils since 2008 in return for not implementing rate rises.
The data shows that owners of a band D property, which represents the middle of the scale in terms of value, will have saved between £1,038 and £1,392 by 2016, depending on where they live. They biggest savings come in Dundee City, with the lowest in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in the Western Isles.
Mark Mcdonald, the SNP MSP who was provided with the figures by Finance Secretary John Swinney after tabling a parliamentary question, said: "The SNP is committed to protecting family budgets - which is in stark contrast to the Tories' assault on working family incomes. The council tax freeze has helped hard-pressed households – by 2016 the freeze will have saved households an average of £1,200, with those on low incomes seeing the biggest savings as a proportion of their household income. We are committed to maintaining the council tax freeze, as set out in our 2011 election manifesto, and will work with others to review options for future replacement for the unfair council tax system."
If the council tax freeze continues throughout the next parliament on its current terms, the total bill since its implementation will rise to more than £6 billion. A commission on local tax reform, established by Nicola Sturgeon, is currently examining alternatives to council tax with the group's findings to inform party manifestos for next year's Holyrood vote.
Cosla, the body that represents local authorities, has called for an immediate end to the council tax freeze saying that rates should be determined locally.
Green MSP Alison Johnstone, her party's’ local government spokeswoman, called for a "new deal" on local government finance.
She said: "With pressure on household bills you can see why the council tax freeze seemed like good politics for the Scottish Government but for too long it has allowed them to dodge the need to replace this deeply regressive tax.
"The freeze makes it even more regressive, as in cash terms it is the better off who benefit the most. It also undermines our democracy. The Scottish Government has local councils in such a financial armlock that they have no choice; they can't raise finance for priorities. In other European countries this interference would be illegal."
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