Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Oral Answers to Questions

Andy Slaughter Excerpts
Monday 30th January 2012

(12 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Stunell Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Andrew Stunell)
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I draw my hon. Friend’s attention to the referendum carried out in Salford last Thursday. Local residents convened a referendum on whether the local authority’s system of governance should be changed and got a positive result. It is entirely possible for local residents to take control of the governance of their local authorities should they wish to do so.

Andy Slaughter Portrait Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab)
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The chief executive of Hammersmith and Fulham borough council recently retired. Thanks to a pay rise of £11,000 last year, which took his salary to £281,000, the Library calculates that he will receive a pension of £100,000 and a tax-free lump sum of £250,000. When the council is cutting Sure Start by 50%, is this a good use of public money?

Lord Pickles Portrait Mr Pickles
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I am sure that the answer is no. I am pleased that the level of chief executive remuneration has dropped by 14% and that 25% of chief executives have taken a voluntary pay cut. I am also pleased that Hammersmith and Fulham is reducing its council tax for the fourth year running.