Local Government Finance Bill

Debate between Baroness McIntosh of Pickering and David Ward

Tuesday 31st January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Ward]

No. Just sit and listen.

[The Temporary Chair (Miss Anne McIntosh)]

Order. Will the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones) contain himself?

[Mr Ward]

I sincerely doubt it, but thank you, Miss McIntosh.

Members have noted that if pensioners are protected, the burden will have to be picked up by others, who may be on low incomes. [Interruption.] That is not necessarily the case, because we do not know what the new freedoms will generate, and they may generate sufficient funds to make up the gap.

As a result of the proposals, Bradford faces a £4 million loss in council tax. The figure for the funding that will be generated from the new-found freedoms, if they are extended to new areas, is actually very substantial, and it is not far off that £4 million figure.