Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to provide a support package for local authorities to be able to adapt and protect communities against the impacts of climate change.

This question was answered on 20th December 2022
Local authorities have a crucial role to play in managing climate impacts at the local level. The upcoming National Adaptation Programme due next year will respond to the 61 risks and opportunities set out in the Climate Change Risk Assessment earlier this year. The Programme will set out the work local authorities are doing and planning to adapt to climate impacts.

The 2023-24 Local Government Finance Settlement provides an increase in Core Spending Power for local authorities of around 9%, making available almost £5 billion in additional funding, demonstrating how Government stands behind councils up and down the country. As democratically elected organisations, local authorities are responsible for managing their budgets and making spending decisions that reflect their priorities.

The Government continues to work closely with the sector to understand the pressures local authorities are facing across their services, including those regarding climate change. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is responsible for stewardship of the local government system and is committed to ensuring that funding allocations for councils are based on an up-to-date assessment of their needs and resources.