Oral Answers to Questions

Rob Wilson Excerpts

Monday 28th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Pickles]

The short answer is yes, of course. As I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Meon Valley (George Hollingbery), this is a very important Government policy, and much of the reluctance arises in Departments, on the ground. I look to the hon. Gentleman, the Select Committee and my Department—which is taking a considerable lead—to deliver on the policy. I believe that if we do so, we shall be delivering something much better.

[Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con)]

9. How much funding his Department has allocated to local authorities to minimise increases in council tax in 2011-12.

[The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)]

I beg your pardon, Mr Speaker, but I have not the remotest idea where I am.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Pickles]

So I am.

The Government announced in the spending review that we intend to make £650 million per annum available for the next four years to help principal local authorities, including police and fire authorities, deliver a council tax freeze in England in 2011-12. If an authority increases its basic rate of council tax by any amount, it will not be eligible for the freeze grant.

[Mr Wilson]

Now that the Secretary of State is back with us, may I thank him for that answer? Under Labour, since 1997 the council tax for the average home in Reading rose by 116%. This year, the new Conservative-led coalition will freeze council tax for the first time ever. On the day that the Leader of the Opposition talks of a cost of living crisis as standing up for families in the middle, does my right hon. Friend agree that the Labour party should begin by apologising for clobbering families in Reading—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Gentleman will resume his seat. His question has absolutely nothing to do with the responsibilities of the Government.