Oral Answers to Questions

Guy Opperman Excerpts

Monday 25th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con)]

Council tax benefit support grant is a key part of the money that central Government give to parish councils. This year, Labour-run Northumberland county council has said that it will not pass the grant on to the local town and parish councils. Does the Minister agree that that is specifically wrong?

[Brandon Lewis]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that important point. We made it clear this year that councils should pass the money down to parish councils, and my hon. Friend is right to put pressure on councils that do not do what they are supposed to do.