Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Hepburn Excerpts
Monday 18th June 2018

(6 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Stephen Hepburn Portrait Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) (Lab)
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5. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of Government funding for local authorities in the north-east since 2010.

Jake Berry Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Jake Berry)
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From 2015-16 to 2019-20, north-east councils will have access to £11.3 billion in core spending power. The 2018-19 settlement sees a 1.9% increase in the money available to north-east councils.

Stephen Hepburn Portrait Mr Hepburn
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The Minister will be aware that north-east councils have had a 50% cut in Government grant since 2010. At the same time, the richest individuals in this country have had a £10 billion tax cut. Does he think it is right that these needless tax cuts are paid for by local government jobs, pay cuts and the loss of local government services?

Jake Berry Portrait Jake Berry
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On the subject of those who can afford it building up savings, I might point out to the hon. Gentleman that his local authority—I remind him, as I am sure he knows, that every seat except one is held by the Labour party—has increased its reserves by £7 million since 2010, so perhaps he should be addressing his questions on redundancies and closures to the local Labour party.