Ron Lord Poll Tax Flashcards
Who was Ron lord
Assistant chief financial officer with Wakefield MBC
When was the Ron Lord article published
23rd January 1987
What did lord say was the first job concerning the poll tax?
Compiling a register for who needed to pay, but government accepted that only 93% of the electorate register to vote.
How can local government keep in touch with those who decide not to register with the scheme?
What issue did Ron lord make with the green paper proposing it was the head of the household who was responsible for registering eligible adults?
There was no set definition of who was the head of the household.
Man?
Woman?
Adult child who has parents living with him or her?
It has to be defined carefully
What did Ron lord say would be the aim of increasing amounts of the population in regards to poll tax?
Evasion, with the hope that any omission in payment would be put down to a clerical error
Why did Ron lord not like the idea of setting up a registration system?
It was the next step towards a compulsory identity card system, which is abhorrent to the British
What was another issue Ron lord pointed out with identity cards in regards to the poll tax?
They would have to be regularly reviewed to remain effective, and a nationalised registration system would be a formality using computers.
Waste of money?
What did Ron lord say about the collective community charge?
No hope of working satisfactorily
- the accountability theme of the green paper is abandoned
- next tenants are laid wide open to exploitation
What was one of the advantages under s15 of the rates act?
Private tenants were able to be sure their landlords were not overcharging them on the rates element of their rent.
No protection with the poll tax
What did Ron lord say about payment exceptions of the poll tax?
People in council houses should be treated in an identical way to their neighbours-they have the same right to vote on council policies so should pay the same
Armed forces should pay the same way as civilians
So should nurses and prison officers, otherwise tax is not credible
Finish the phrase from the authors of the poll tax green paper,’ in principle each individual..
In principle each individual should also be individually liable for paying his or her bill. However this might be difficult where people have no independent income of their own.’
How did Ron lord criticise separate bills with houses?
They do nothing to increase a local authorities accountability
Will bring criticism of waste and inefficiency, as households receive two or more bills in different envelopes
