Council Tax

Lord Grocott Excerpts

Monday 3rd February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

Absolutely not. The range of legislation we have brought forward has shown just how progressive this Government are being in both fiscal and social policy.

[Lord Grocott (Lab)]

My noble friend, with her long experience in local government, knows well enough that, when there are major reorganisations in local government, you can be absolutely certain they will cost a lot of money, whatever the savings in the long term may be. Can she assure us that in the plans being considered, which are already costing local authorities preparation money to defend themselves or to decide which groups to join, the cost of this will not fall on the council tax payer?

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

My noble friend makes a very important point about the cost of devolution. We want to see all of England accessing that devolved power, and efficiencies will be generated in the long term. My honourable friend the Minister will be setting out the local government finance settlement later today, and I am sure he will include the details then.