Oral Answers to Questions

Helen Goodman Excerpts

Monday 4th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Jake Berry]

I cannot comment on a live planning issue.

[Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)]

14. What assessment he has made of the implications for local authorities outside London of full business rates revenue retention by London local authorities.

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

Local authorities in London have estimated that the business rate retention pilot announced in the Budget will benefit them by £240 million. There will be no impact from the pilot on other local authority areas.

[Helen Goodman]

Will the Minister explain how it can possibly be the case that business rates in London raise £7.5 billion and retention only gives £240 million? Surely this is swiping money from the rest of the country, which needs it in order to even up resources.

[Jake Berry]

The £240 million is new money from business rates growth. Let me share with the hon. Lady the startling fact that 100% of the local authorities that will get the business rate localisation pilot applied for it. When she goes back up to her constituency, she might like to ask her own Labour-controlled council why it could not be bothered to do so.