Robbing first-time house buyers of their grant was an appalling act, but the Government was not yet satisfied. Last year's budget increased the VAT rate, thus raising the cost of new houses. Now we have the scandal of an increase in the development charges levied by local authorities of between 100% and 500%, depending on the area in which one resides. While it may be argued that development charges have been imposed for years, local authorities have never before been put in a position where they were left with no option but to raise these exorbitant charges and, in so doing, put another nail in the coffin of first-time housebuyers, a group the Government should be encouraging, rather than trampling on by withdrawing grants, raising prices, increasing development charges and imposing an increasing number of stealth taxes.