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Some people have asked why the House of Commons voted down a recent tax proposal of food and complained about the high taxes on many items. I will attempt to explain the somewhat perplexing result.

The House of Commons is very much in favor of tax relief. The taxes were raised as an emergency measure several months ago and remained in place due to a budget crisis. Lowering taxes is a slightly complicated matter and requires a certain amount of coordination for several reasons:

1. A change in the tax rate can only be proposed in one sector at a time and there is a waiting period before another change in the tax rates can be introduced.

2. A certain amount of protectionism is required in eRep because the trade system is rather crude and lowering import taxes too much would destroy domestic producers.

3. Budgeting is more prediction than science for governments in eRep as there are not many tools that can help to show the actual effect that lowering some taxes will have on the finances of the state.

There is also an internal legislative process in the eUK. Votes in almost all cases must first go through the forums first. This is because there is also internal legislation and also we must discuss matters before proposing them in-game. This has heightened importance for tax reasons given the limits that the game places on when they can be proposed. It also gives us a chance to hear what the Minister of Finance has to say on any tax change, since he/she is in charge of national finances. Affected members of the public and businesses also have a chance to weigh in on the process and give feedback.

Tax relief is on the way. A proposal is now being voted on in the House of Commons as we speak and can be viewed in the forums.

LordJustice Home Minister