P147 CJJFAX 147 Thu 21 Oct 21:25/23 1/2 COMMONS TORJJS PUTTING UP TAXES - BECKETT Labour has accused the Govjrnmjnt of "not having the guts" to admit it is putting up taxes on income and spending next spring. Deputy leader Margaret Beckett was talkrng about the decison in last March's Budget to increase National Insurance contributions by 1%. She challenged Tony Newton to acknowledge that NI contributions were a tax on income. But the Commons leader said contributions were "a means to obtaining benefits". --,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. Next News World Politics BBC1 TVP147 CEEFAX 147 Thu 21 Oct 21:19/41 2/2 COMMONS BID TO BLOCK VAT ON FUEL MOVE A bid to scrap the Government's move to put VAT on home heating bills has been launched. Labour's Nigel Spearing gained an unopposed formal first reading for his Taxation of Domestic Fuel and Power (Amendment) Bill. This would repeal the section of this year's Finance Act implementing the Budget proposal of former Chancellor Norman Lamont. Earlier, Mr Spearing conceded that his measure had no chance of becoming law. --,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. Next News World Politics BBC1 TV