Council Tax

Debate between Baroness Taylor of Stevenage and Lord Tyrie

Tuesday 19th November 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

I hear my noble friend’s point, which he has made in the House several times before. The impact of Brexit is widespread, and I completely understand his point.

[Lord Tyrie (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, will the Minister return to the point that the noble Lord, Lord Clarke, made a moment ago? Unless we address the gross imbalance in the amount of money taken from various groups in society in council tax, we will never make any progress on the other side of ledger, which is how to spend the money on social care. The Government must grasp this nettle. Is now not the best moment to do it, when the Government have a large majority and a long Parliament ahead to achieve their aims?

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for his comments. My honourable friend Minister McMahon is very clear that we need to set up a fairer funding settlement for local government. It is our choice to do it this way, rather than by a complicated and time-consuming reform of council tax. In this year’s funding settlement, the noble Lord will hear news about reshaping the way that funding is distributed, and there will be further news on it in the spending review next year.