Oral Answers to Questions

Charlie Elphicke Excerpts

Monday 3rd June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Prisk]

Absolutely. That is why we have strengthened planning policy so that town centres come first. Indeed, only last week I was briefly in Cricklade in my hon. Friend’s constituency, which has an excellent range of shops.

[Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con)]

8. What recent steps he has taken to help pensioners with their council tax bills.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis)]

The Government have protected pensioners from any change as they have fixed incomes and cannot reasonably be expected to go back to work. Pensioners who have saved and worked hard all their lives deserve dignity and security in retirement, and we are pleased to be able to introduce that protection and to freeze council tax.

[Charlie Elphicke]

Is not keeping council tax down the best help local authorities can give to pensioners? Does the Minister agree that freezing council tax, which some councils, including Kent, which I represent, have done in the past few years, is the best way to help people on fixed incomes?

[Brandon Lewis]

My hon. Friend is right. Good councils such as Kent county council have worked hard to drive down their core costs while still investing in their communities and freezing council tax. That is good for all residents on all levels and I congratulate councils such as Kent on doing that.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Foster]

The simple answer is that no, we will not. The hon. Lady will be well aware that when her party proposed such a register, the impact assessment showed that it would cost £300 million a year, and that money would be put on to the rent of people seeking to live in those properties.

[Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con)]

How many of the savings made in the Minister’s Department have received positive representations or support from the Labour party?

[Mr Prisk]

None.