Local Government Finance Bill

Debate between Helen Jones and Andrew Turner

Tuesday 24th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Helen Jones]

My hon. Friend raises a point that I had not considered before, but he is right about that effect. Part of the problem in this country is that headquarters of major companies are often concentrated around London and the south-east, unlike many other economies, in which it is common for major companies to have their headquarters in the regions. There is huge unfairness built into the system that the Government propose.

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

How many headquarters are there on the Isle of Wight, which is in the south-east?

[Helen Jones]

I did not say that they were in every constituency: I said that they are concentrated in London and the south-east, which is a plain fact.

In any case, we do not believe that this is the way to proceed. If the Government do not take steps to tackle the gap—and those steps are not set out in the Bill—services in many councils will decline, while others are able to reduce, even abolish their council tax as time goes on. We will therefore seek to divide the Committee on the amendment later, and I commend it to my hon. Friends.