THE proposal to impose a mansion tax to raise revenue for national expenditure opens a can of worms.

The main source for local revenue that local authorities are authorised to charge is council tax based on the value given to properties, but re-valuations turn out to be so subject to contest by those who are going to be charged more the tendency is to delay any re-valuation to avoid controversy.

Property values have increased and it has become a system penalising the poor and benefitting the wealthy.

There is a case for a re-valuation of properties for local council revenue. It would add to local authority autonomy, but this is not what is currently being proposed.

The Labour Party will have to go back to the drawing board to come up with a feasible means of paying for increased expenditure on health.

G Bulmer, Billingham.