Welcome for Council Tax Relief for Defence Services Personnel

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th Oct 2009

Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed a decision of the Welsh Assembly Government to follow England and Scotland in allowing Council Tax discounts for defence services personnel.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have welcomed the decision by Brian Gibbons, the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government to give service personnel a 50% discount on their Council Tax.

The announcement was made during a debate submitted by the Welsh Liberal Democrats, who had put pressure on the Government to change the anomaly that means service personnel in Wales had to pay full Council Tax on their properties due to being classed as a second home, unlike in England and Scotland where they receive a 50% discount.

Local Assembly Member Michael German, who spoke in the debate yesterday in the Senedd, said: "This is fantastic news for our service personnel who will get recognition for the risks they take for serving their country. I am glad the Minister has decided to listen to us on this issue and that common sense has finally prevailed."

Mr. German added, "I have been speaking with some councils this morning in the Gwent area and I am particularly pleased to learn that local authorities will be receiving extra grant money from the Welsh Government to help pay for the discount. It would have been unfair to put the burden of this discount on Council Tax payers and it is right that the Government will fund this overdue measure."

In Monmouthshire the announcement was particularly welcomed. Phil Hobson, the Liberal Democrats' MP candidate said that the news would be 'very warmly received' in Chepstow, a garrison town for the nearby Rifles Regiment barracks at Beachley. "Service families are being encouraged to join in the daily life of the town and many families are sending children to local schools and buying homes. The unfair burden of Council Tax on service personnel is now going to be lifted and it can't come soon enough."