Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of increasing the level of resources and funding for councils ahead of the Budget.

It would not be appropriate to comment on individual measures ahead of the Budget. The Chancellor will take decisions through the usual Budget process and set out the Government’s fiscal plans at the Budget.

The Department will continue to work closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific pressures facing local government ahead of the Budget and other fiscal events.