Local Government Finance (England)

Debate between Lord Field of Birkenhead and Brandon Lewis

Wednesday 13th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

My hon. Friend highlights exactly the point I was making—that good councils with good leadership making the right decisions are good for their local residents.

[Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Lab)]

Let us assume that we accept the Government’s financial envelope for this settlement. Why, then, did the Government not award the grants in proportion to need or at least fairly in accordance with need? The local authority I partly represent had a £300 million budget, but £100 million of it is to go within three years. In those circumstances, how does the Minister envisage that local authority expanding services along the lines suggested by the hon. Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy)?

[Brandon Lewis]

There is a range of ways in which local authorities can make a choice. This is the key issue: it is about trusting local government, with good local leadership, to make decisions, such as those my hon. Friend outlined, for the benefit of their communities. I will touch on the fairness of the settlement in a few moments.