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31/03/2003
Robinson warns of potential rates ‘time-bomb’
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson has warned that Northern Ireland is facing a "potential time bomb" unless urgent steps are taken to curb expenditure on regional government.
Mr Robinson said: “Northern Ireland is facing a rates time bomb. Unless action is taken to streamline government and cut back on political bureaucracy householders in Northern Ireland will be facing huge increases in their local taxes over the next few years.”
Seeking to position rates as a key issue in the upcoming Assembly elections, he said there was concern that the pro-agreement parties were set on a course, which could treble local taxes within a few years. The deputy leader of the DUP claimed that a combination of the review of rating, water charging and the reinvestment and reform initiative would serve to push rates towards “unprecedented levels in the province”.
He said that the DUP believed the money would be spent on “front-line services rather than political bureaucracy” and had set out proposals aimed at saving half a billion pounds over the next Assembly term.
He warned: “Unless such savings are made many people in Northern Ireland will be paying for a bloated bureaucracy without seeing government delivering the kind of services which Northern Ireland requires.
“We believe that £1 billion can be saved over an Assembly term and around £500,000 in political bureaucracy alone.”
Launching the document in Stormont today Mr Robinson said: “We hope that this publication will start the debate on how to save money and keep rates to a manageable level.
“If this issue is ignored, as it has been by the pro-agreement parties to date, then when Rates rise out of all control it will be people’s livelihoods and devolution which will ultimately suffer.”
Amongst the DUP’s proposed cost cutting measures are a reduction in the number of MLAs, cutting the number of government departments, abolishing the Civic Forum, cutting back on north-south institutions, and reducing expenditure on human rights and equality.
(SP)
Mr Robinson said: “Northern Ireland is facing a rates time bomb. Unless action is taken to streamline government and cut back on political bureaucracy householders in Northern Ireland will be facing huge increases in their local taxes over the next few years.”
Seeking to position rates as a key issue in the upcoming Assembly elections, he said there was concern that the pro-agreement parties were set on a course, which could treble local taxes within a few years. The deputy leader of the DUP claimed that a combination of the review of rating, water charging and the reinvestment and reform initiative would serve to push rates towards “unprecedented levels in the province”.
He said that the DUP believed the money would be spent on “front-line services rather than political bureaucracy” and had set out proposals aimed at saving half a billion pounds over the next Assembly term.
He warned: “Unless such savings are made many people in Northern Ireland will be paying for a bloated bureaucracy without seeing government delivering the kind of services which Northern Ireland requires.
“We believe that £1 billion can be saved over an Assembly term and around £500,000 in political bureaucracy alone.”
Launching the document in Stormont today Mr Robinson said: “We hope that this publication will start the debate on how to save money and keep rates to a manageable level.
“If this issue is ignored, as it has been by the pro-agreement parties to date, then when Rates rise out of all control it will be people’s livelihoods and devolution which will ultimately suffer.”
Amongst the DUP’s proposed cost cutting measures are a reduction in the number of MLAs, cutting the number of government departments, abolishing the Civic Forum, cutting back on north-south institutions, and reducing expenditure on human rights and equality.
(SP)
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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.
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NI householders face rate rise
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry with clear skies this evening. Patchy cloud will increase at times overnight, but some clear spells too. Light winds and some patchy shallow mist or fog towards dawn. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
