If the hon. Lady is here, she can speak for herself. Anyway, I was criticised by Opposition Members for making the formula simpler. I remind the House that the formula that I have announced today is a significant simplification of its predecessor, and that it builds on simplifications introduced previously...

If the hon. Lady is here, she can speak for herself. Anyway, I was criticised by Opposition Members for making the formula simpler. I remind the House that the formula that I have announced today is a significant simplification of its predecessor, and that it builds on simplifications introduced previously...

Would the Minister agree that the precept that he has just announced has been damaged by the Chancellor’s announcement about pensioner rebate last Wednesday? Will he answer this simple question: when the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor agreed the block grant figure last December, did the Chancellor have the...

Would the Minister agree that the precept that he has just announced has been damaged by the Chancellor’s announcement about pensioner rebate last Wednesday? Will he answer this simple question: when the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor agreed the block grant figure last December, did the Chancellor have the...

Yes, I am hopeful, and the Government, as regulator of the scheme, stand ready to facilitate discussions between the employers represented by the LGA and the representatives of members of the scheme, the trade unions. Our policy is that the taxpayer should not be asked to pick up any additional...

Yes, I am hopeful, and the Government, as regulator of the scheme, stand ready to facilitate discussions between the employers represented by the LGA and the representatives of members of the scheme, the trade unions. Our policy is that the taxpayer should not be asked to pick up any additional...

What message does the Minister have for pensioners in my Shropshire constituency, given that they have just had a 4.9 per cent. council tax increase from Labour-led Telford and Wrekin council, and that they no longer have a £200 rebate? Do the Government not realise that such increases are driving...

What message does the Minister have for pensioners in my Shropshire constituency, given that they have just had a 4.9 per cent. council tax increase from Labour-led Telford and Wrekin council, and that they no longer have a £200 rebate? Do the Government not realise that such increases are driving...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for making that point, which he has made before in this Chamber and outside it. We did of course make changes to the use of population statistics to ensure that, alongside previous trends, future projections are taken into account to a greater extent in the...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for making that point, which he has made before in this Chamber and outside it. We did of course make changes to the use of population statistics to ensure that, alongside previous trends, future projections are taken into account to a greater extent in the...

The 2006–07 settlement includes an element for population growth, but it is based on census data and is then projected forward. That disadvantages local people in high-growth areas such as Kettering, which is affected by population growth in Milton Keynes and the south midlands. Will the Minister undertake to look...

The 2006–07 settlement includes an element for population growth, but it is based on census data and is then projected forward. That disadvantages local people in high-growth areas such as Kettering, which is affected by population growth in Milton Keynes and the south midlands. Will the Minister undertake to look...

In my statement and in previous answers, I pointed out that one has to look at support for pensioners and others on fixed incomes in the round. The hon. Gentleman ignores the fact that the pension credit, help with winter fuel payments and the council tax benefit system have helped...

In my statement and in previous answers, I pointed out that one has to look at support for pensioners and others on fixed incomes in the round. The hon. Gentleman ignores the fact that the pension credit, help with winter fuel payments and the council tax benefit system have helped...

Will the Minister explain what has changed since before the general election, when pensioners were bribed with a £200 council tax rebate?

Will the Minister explain what has changed since before the general election, when pensioners were bribed with a £200 council tax rebate?

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that point again. As I said in my statement, the average council tax increases of 12.9 per cent. that took place some years ago were regrettable. However, he must accept that council tax levels are set by local authorities. Against the background of...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that point again. As I said in my statement, the average council tax increases of 12.9 per cent. that took place some years ago were regrettable. However, he must accept that council tax levels are set by local authorities. Against the background of...

Of course, I would be willing to meet my hon. Friend. Last year, we gave, and fulfilled, commitments to meet all councils and Members concerned about their local authorities’ budgets and about council tax capping decisions. It may be helpful to my hon. Friend if I emphasise the point that...

Of course, I would be willing to meet my hon. Friend. Last year, we gave, and fulfilled, commitments to meet all councils and Members concerned about their local authorities’ budgets and about council tax capping decisions. It may be helpful to my hon. Friend if I emphasise the point that...

I apologise to the Minister and to the House for being absent when the Minister made his statement. I was chairing a Standing Committee and obviously could not leave the Chair. I am greatly concerned that City of York council has one of the largest council tax rises this year...

I apologise to the Minister and to the House for being absent when the Minister made his statement. I was chairing a Standing Committee and obviously could not leave the Chair. I am greatly concerned that City of York council has one of the largest council tax rises this year...

What estimate has the Minister made of the effect of the local government pension scheme on council tax levels in 2006–07 and in subsequent years? Against the background of tomorrow’s industrial action in local councils, is he still hopeful that a settlement can be found that will modernise the pension...

What estimate has the Minister made of the effect of the local government pension scheme on council tax levels in 2006–07 and in subsequent years? Against the background of tomorrow’s industrial action in local councils, is he still hopeful that a settlement can be found that will modernise the pension...

May I raise with the Minister the impact of the capping criteria on authorities that have historically had a low council tax, or, in the case of the Lancashire police authority, a low precept? Over a number of years, it has wished to raise its precept to its expenditure and...

May I raise with the Minister the impact of the capping criteria on authorities that have historically had a low council tax, or, in the case of the Lancashire police authority, a low precept? Over a number of years, it has wished to raise its precept to its expenditure and...

The crisis in social services is bound to be made worse by the formula because of increasing demands from old people’s and, indeed, young persons’ services, but that must be seen in the context of the crisis in the NHS as well, owing to increasingly close links between it and...

The crisis in social services is bound to be made worse by the formula because of increasing demands from old people’s and, indeed, young persons’ services, but that must be seen in the context of the crisis in the NHS as well, owing to increasingly close links between it and...

Of course the Government recognise—and have recognised in their joint work with the LGA—the pressures faced by social services, particularly services for adults and the elderly. It would be nonsensical to deny the existence of those pressures. But those pressures, the result of largely demographic changes, also apply to central...

Of course the Government recognise—and have recognised in their joint work with the LGA—the pressures faced by social services, particularly services for adults and the elderly. It would be nonsensical to deny the existence of those pressures. But those pressures, the result of largely demographic changes, also apply to central...

Not yet. I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his new position and look forward to debating this important policy subject with him. At least the hon. Gentleman’s points, in contrast to those made by the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles), are based on a policy. At least...

Not yet. I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his new position and look forward to debating this important policy subject with him. At least the hon. Gentleman’s points, in contrast to those made by the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles), are based on a policy. At least...

indicated dissent.

indicated dissent.

I do not accept the premise of the hon. Gentleman’s question. Indeed, it provides a classic example of what I call the Liberal Democrat single transferable argument. When the council tax level is beyond what the hon. Gentleman thinks it should be and Liberal Democrats have influence in local councils,...

I do not accept the premise of the hon. Gentleman’s question. Indeed, it provides a classic example of what I call the Liberal Democrat single transferable argument. When the council tax level is beyond what the hon. Gentleman thinks it should be and Liberal Democrats have influence in local councils,...

What note has the Minister taken of Trowbridge town council’s 48 per cent. increase in precept, which means that the precept far exceeds the district council element of the council tax bill? Does he not agree that that is simply unacceptable?

What note has the Minister taken of Trowbridge town council’s 48 per cent. increase in precept, which means that the precept far exceeds the district council element of the council tax bill? Does he not agree that that is simply unacceptable?

I have not received any praise—I suppose that I should not really have expected any—for my decision on Aylesbury Vale and Wellingborough. The hon. Gentleman may think that I am going to study the figures for parish and town councils, but I am not; the legislation does not cover that...

I have not received any praise—I suppose that I should not really have expected any—for my decision on Aylesbury Vale and Wellingborough. The hon. Gentleman may think that I am going to study the figures for parish and town councils, but I am not; the legislation does not cover that...