Oral Answers to Questions

Charlie Elphicke Excerpts

Monday 17th January 2011 Commons Chamber

[Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con)]

3. What support his Department is giving to local authorities to minimise increases in council tax.

[Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con)]

8. What support his Department is giving to local authorities to minimise increases in council tax.

[Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con)]

12. What support his Department is giving to local authorities to minimise increases in council tax.

--- Later in debate ---

[Grant Shapps]

My hon. Friend is right. In the past week or so since the finance settlement, I have had a procession of council leaders coming to see me, usually with their chief executives, to plead that they have no money left. One came this morning, and notably brought the chief executive who is being paid £180,000. I pay tribute to those local authorities that have taken the necessary steps and are therefore able to take advantage of the council tax freeze.

[Charlie Elphicke]

The elderly, vulnerable and least well-off constituents of mine in Dover and Deal and I am sure across the country will welcome the Government’s efforts to freeze council tax. May we have an assurance from Ministers that we will never again return to the dark days of the past, when council tax doubled under the previous Labour Administration?

[Grant Shapps]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to point out that between 1997 and last year council tax rose by 109%, so the elderly, the frail, the most vulnerable and those with fixed incomes had absolutely no defence against what was happening when the current Opposition were in government. I am very proud to say that £650 million is being made available for this important priority: a 0% rise.