Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Damian Hinds and Brandon Lewis
Brandon Lewis
Failure would be going back to the policies of the old Labour Government, when council tax and spending on council tax benefit doubled, costing hard-working families about £180 a year each. That is exactly why this Government have put in £100 million to help councils have the time and space to develop good schemes to protect the most vulnerable, which they have a duty to do, and it is also why we have protected pensioners.
Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con)
9. What recent guidance he has given to councils on delivering savings in local government.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Damian Hinds and Brandon Lewis
Brandon Lewis
I want to update the hon. Gentleman on a matter of fact. He might like to have a look at the figures, which show that the cut for fire authorities last year and the year that we are now in was 0.5%, as opposed to the swingeing cut to which he referred. Those authorities continue to do a fantastic job, as we are seeing. Problem with deaths from fire have fallen quite dramatically over the past few years, and the figures that he is citing simply do not add up.
Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con)
19. What steps he is taking to tackle (a) unauthorised development and (b) illegal encampments.