Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with the devolved Administrations on the adequacy of fiscal support for local councils across the UK, in the context of (a) recent trends in levels of demand for services, (b) the impacts of inflation and (c) increases in energy costs; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local authorities receive adequate funding for the provision of their services.

Funding for local councils is a devolved responsibility and it is for the Devolved Governments to decide on their level of funding.

I met with all Devolved Government Finance Ministers in Belfast on 3^rd October at a meeting of the Finance: Interministerial Standing committee. We discussed our approach to resetting relations, driving economic growth and delivering the vital public services on which our citizens depend.

The Chancellor has also met with the First Ministers and Finance Minsters from the Devolved Governments over the summer to hear their priorities.