Council Tax Benefit Localisation

Lord Stunell Excerpts

Tuesday 17th July 2012 Ministerial Corrections

The following is an extract from the closing speech given by the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew Stunell), during the Westminster Hall debate on Council Tax Benefit Localisation on 27 June 2012.

[Andrew Stunell]

That brings me to the contributions of hon. Members representing constituencies in Wales and Scotland. In both those nations, the allocation of the reduction is strictly in accordance with the Barnett formula, and that reduction is no more ring-fenced in its decrease than any increase under the formula. It is entirely a matter for the Welsh and Scottish Administrations to decide how to proceed on the schemes in their respective countries. It is important to make that point.

[Official Report, 27 June 2012, Vol. 547, c. 97WH.]

Letter of correction from Andrew Stunell:

An error has been identified in the closing speech given during the Westminster Hall debate on 27 June 2012. The error relates to the method by which the funding for localised council tax support to be allocated to the Scottish and Welsh Government for council tax support will be calculated.

The correct version is as follows:

[Andrew Stunell]

That brings me to the contributions of hon. Members representing constituencies in Wales and Scotland. In both those nations, it is intended that the allocation of the reduction will be in accordance with shares of current expenditure on council tax benefit, and that reduction is no more ring-fenced in its decrease than any increase in shares of expenditure. It is entirely a matter for the Welsh and Scottish Administrations to decide how to proceed on the schemes in their respective countries. It is important to make that point.