Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Rachael Maskell Excerpts
Tuesday 19th December 2023

(11 months, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jeremy Hunt Portrait Jeremy Hunt
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As I go to carol services over the festive period, I will make sure that I am suitably inspired by what the three wise men brought to the crib. I can tell my hon. Friend that I am actually visiting our gold reserves this week, so I will see at first hand just how important they are.

Rachael Maskell Portrait Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)
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Right now, council leaders up and down the country are having to make very difficult decisions on cutting vital services—not because of profligacy, but because of Government cuts to their funding. What steps is the Chancellor taking to ensure that local authorities—such as that in York, which is the lowest-funded area—are adequately funded?

Laura Trott Portrait Laura Trott
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The hon. Lady will have heard my answer to a previous question where I stated that we have put billions of pounds of extra money into local government this year to cover pressures. We recognise that those pressures are real, which is why the provisional settlement proposes an above-inflation rise for next year.