Andrew Bridgen
Main Page: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire) Brandon Lewis
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Brandon Lewis 
        
    
        
    
        I dispute that directly, because the hon. Lady’s local authority’s spending power is £2,355 per household per year, which is well above the national average of £2,089, so it comes from a much higher position which recognises its local needs.
 Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con) 
        
    
        
    
        Will my hon. Friend confirm that despite cuts in central Government funding many Conservative-controlled councils, such as my own North West Leicestershire district council, have continued to freeze or indeed cut council tax?
 Brandon Lewis
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Brandon Lewis 
        
    
        
    
        My hon. Friend makes a good point. Some excellent councils across the country have even cut council tax this year, and the council tax freeze means that those areas have, under this Government over the past four years, seen a real-terms cut in council tax of about 11%.