Tories slam Hips

Posted: 30 Jul 2007 11:33:22 GMT

The Conservative Party has accused the government of using Home information packs (Hips) to lay the foundations for a council tax revaluation.

The Conservative Party has accused the government of using Home information packs (Hips) to lay the foundations for a council tax revaluation.

According to the Tories, a set of deals have been agreed between the Valuation Office Agency and a number of large database managers, offering information about people's homes.

In addition, a database is set to be put together that will record data on Hips and the information included in each individual one.

The Conservatives say that this information will then be easily accessed by the Valuation Office Agency and will be used for a new "Big Brother" council tax database.

"Labour's plans for Home information packs are nothing less than a home information tax," commented Eric Pickles, Conservative shadow secretary of state for local government and communities.

"This isn't about making it easier to get onto the housing ladder; it's just a stealthy way of conducting Labour's controversial council tax revaluation by the backdoor.

"You'll have to pay the State to inspect your home - and help the taxman hike your council tax bill," she continued.

Hazel Blears, the communities and local government secretary has defended Hips, telling BBC One's 'News 24 Sunday' show: "Having energy performance certificates actually will give people some more information about the standard of this house."

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