To ask Her Majesty’s Government which local authorities have (1) bid for, and (2) been awarded, grant payments as part of the weekly collection support scheme.[HL5963]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which local authorities have (1) bid for, and (2) been awarded, grant payments as part of the weekly collection support scheme.[HL5963]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eric Pickles) made the following Written Ministerial Statement on 15 April 2013.

I would like to update honourable Members on the main items of business undertaken by my department since the House of Commons rose on 26 March....

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eric Pickles) made the following Written Ministerial Statement on 15 April 2013.

I would like to update honourable Members on the main items of business undertaken by my department since the House of Commons rose on 26 March....

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the use of the estimated underspends in the National Health Service in 2012-13, shown in table 4.22 on page 131 of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s report, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published on 20 March; and whether those underspends will...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the use of the estimated underspends in the National Health Service in 2012-13, shown in table 4.22 on page 131 of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s report, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published on 20 March; and whether those underspends will...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much funding will be made available to each London borough in 2013–14 to cover the management element of any costs of temporary accommodation for homeless households on universal credit.[HL6295]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much funding will be made available to each London borough in 2013–14 to cover the management element of any costs of temporary accommodation for homeless households on universal credit.[HL6295]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Department for Work and Pensions’ circular G10/2012, when a decision will be made on the mechanism by which the management element of the costs of temporary accommodation for homeless households will be paid to local authorities; and when those payments will be...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Department for Work and Pensions’ circular G10/2012, when a decision will be made on the mechanism by which the management element of the costs of temporary accommodation for homeless households will be paid to local authorities; and when those payments will be...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which local authorities made representations to them on the proposed local government finance settlement (1) in writing, and (2) by meetings with Ministers. [HL5541]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which local authorities made representations to them on the proposed local government finance settlement (1) in writing, and (2) by meetings with Ministers. [HL5541]

My Lords, these regulations put in place the last elements needed for the operation of the rates retention scheme in 2013-14. That scheme, as we have discussed previously, is designed to deliver the Government’s objective of returning an element of business rates to local control in a way that incentivises...

My Lords, these regulations put in place the last elements needed for the operation of the rates retention scheme in 2013-14. That scheme, as we have discussed previously, is designed to deliver the Government’s objective of returning an element of business rates to local control in a way that incentivises...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing these regulations. As the Minister said, they are quite complex. Holding concepts such as business rates base line, base line funding levels and retained rates income in one’s mind is a challenge—certainly for me—as one goes through the detail, but I think...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing these regulations. As the Minister said, they are quite complex. Holding concepts such as business rates base line, base line funding levels and retained rates income in one’s mind is a challenge—certainly for me—as one goes through the detail, but I think...

My Lords, again I thank the noble Lord, Lord McKenzie, for his support for what the Government are seeking to do. As a general point, I know—and I am sure the noble Lord will share my experience—that when we were looking at introducing the whole issue of business rates and...

My Lords, again I thank the noble Lord, Lord McKenzie, for his support for what the Government are seeking to do. As a general point, I know—and I am sure the noble Lord will share my experience—that when we were looking at introducing the whole issue of business rates and...

I thank the Minister for his answers, but I do not think I asked a question that I intended to ask about the baseline funding level, which is uprated each year. I think I read that it is uprated by the small non-domestic rate multiplier. Why that metric?

I thank the Minister for his answers, but I do not think I asked a question that I intended to ask about the baseline funding level, which is uprated each year. I think I read that it is uprated by the small non-domestic rate multiplier. Why that metric?

This is the point where I look over my shoulder. I think the noble Lord is correct on this. There may be some elements of local government finance that during my time I sought to understand. He is correct in his interpretation.

This is the point where I look over my shoulder. I think the noble Lord is correct on this. There may be some elements of local government finance that during my time I sought to understand. He is correct in his interpretation.

Why is that multiplier used? The Minister can write to me.

Why is that multiplier used? The Minister can write to me.

I will write to the noble Lord on that.

I will write to the noble Lord on that.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, the amendment would help to solve three problems: the urgent need for more social housing; the lack of growth in the economy; and the need to boost the construction industry. It is supported by a number of organisations: the Local Government Association, of which I declare my vice-presidency,...

My Lords, the amendment would help to solve three problems: the urgent need for more social housing; the lack of growth in the economy; and the need to boost the construction industry. It is supported by a number of organisations: the Local Government Association, of which I declare my vice-presidency,...