Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Robert Neill and Fiona Mactaggart
Robert Neill
Freedom for local authorities to respond to the priorities and needs of their residents is absolutely a good thing and is a top priority of this Government.
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab)
But what does the Minister say to local authorities such as mine that face a larger burden of in-year cutbacks than neighbouring authorities? What does he say about the additional burdens that he has put on to them by forcing them to cut previously agreed budgets with voluntary sector organisations and local services, meaning more expensive ways of managing their budgets?
Robert Neill
First, the hon. Lady forgets the financial situation that we inherited—that is fundamental. Secondly, because we have removed ring-fencing and reduced the percentage of ring-fenced funding, we have made sure that local authorities have more flexibility in how they save money. Thirdly, despite our dire financial inheritance, we have ensured that no local authority would have to make a reduction of more than 2%.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Robert Neill and Fiona Mactaggart
Robert Neill
The important thing that we have done is to protect formula grant, which is the largest single grant paid to local authorities. As I said, we have given local authorities considerably more leeway in how they use those moneys by ring-fencing a significant number of grants and removing significant burdens such as the inspection regime, which is estimated to cost local authorities something in the order of £2 billion a year.
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.