'Satellite-photo database will increase council tax'

Satellite photos and a 'Big Brother' database could be used to increase the council tax bills of householders who have made improvements such as conservatories, claim the Conservatives.

But the government has denied the claims, labelling them "scaremongering".

At present, council tax bills are unaffected by home improvements but Tories claim information from satellite or aerial photos will be used to build up a database that could be used to impose a "stealth tax" on extensions.

Inspectors will also collate information on the type and condition of walls and roofs.

Conservative local government spokeswoman, Caroline Spelman, said in a statement: "The public have already expressed concern at the prospect of inspectors with cameras entering their homes. Now it appears that the government will also be using aerial photography to invade people's privacy and lay the ground for a new stealth tax on home improvements."

She said the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), part of the Inland Revenue, is building up a database of information on each home in the UK, with two million records already held.

A government spokesman said the Tory claims were "misleading scaremongering".

He added: "VOA does not use aerial or satellite photography for valuation purposes."