Reform of Local Government Finance in Britain
Stephen James Bailey, Ronan Paddison (editors)This book of readings was compiled during the period between publication of the Green Paper ‘Paying for Local Government’ (Cmnd 9714) in January 1986 and the passage of the English and Welsh Community Charge (Poll Tax) Bill through Parliament during the first half of 1988. The Scottish Bill reached the statute book in May 1987.
Whilst the Scottish Bill had a fairly easy passage through Parliament that for England and Wales generated a particularly contentious debate centred on the lack of account taken of the ability to pay the tax. Despite a three-line whip, the Government's Commons majority of 101 was cut to 25 when the vote was taken on the Bill. It then received an equally rough ride through the House of Lords, where it secured a majority of 134 only after the Government secured an unusually high turnout of Tory Peers. (It was only the second time since 1831 that 500 Peers had turned out to vote).