HC Deb 28 April 1993 vol 223 cc942-4
2. Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average Government grant per head provided to Conservative-controlled county councils.

Mr. Redwood

The average amount of revenue support grant for Conservative-controlled county councils in 1993–94 is £222 per head. The average for Labour county councils is £274 per head—for around £100 per household more grant. Where, now, are the claims that Labour is disadvantaged and done down by the rate support grant settlement? In addition to Labour county councils charging £100 more in council tax, they receive an extra £100 per household in grant.

Mr. Ainsworth

In view of that answer, is it not even more remarkable that Conservative councils charge more than £100 less in respect of band C properties than Labour councils? Is it not a tragedy that Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors throughout the country have not yet learnt that what people want from their local council is the right service at the right price?

Mr. Redwood

That is clearly true, and I am sure that the electors will express their views on it on 6 May. Conservative councils deliver better services at a lower price with less grant. That is the treble achievement of which my hon. Friends and I are rightly proud.

Mr. O'Hara

If Conservative councillors are so content with their standard spending assessments, will the Minister—as an hon. Member representing a Kent constituency—explain to me why that the mayor of Canterbury, Councillor Pat Burke, has wisely decided to apply for the Labour whip on Canterbury council? Does he agree with me that that was indeed a wise decision, and with the judgment of the Canterbury Gazette that, with the Liberal Democrats in disarray and the Tories of Canterbury moribund, he could have made no better decision?

Mr. Redwood

The hon. Gentleman shows that the policies of Liberals and Labour on councils where they have some influence are similar. Conservative councillors up and down the country are doing a good job in delivering high-quality services at low cost. As I said, they obtain far less grant. Most of them are happy with the grant that they receive and do a good job within it. Some Conservative councillors would like more grant—that is understandable—and more grant is given to some Conservative councils as well as to Labour councils. As the figures show, however, it is the Labour councils which scoop the pool.

Mr. Mans

Will my hon. Friend spare a thought for my constituents in Fleetwood and for the constituents of the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw), the Opposition spokesman on the environment, in Labour-controlled Lancashire, whose council tax bills are £160 more on average than in Conservative-controlled Hampshire, even though Lancashire has a larger external grant? Does my hon. Friend agree that it is a scandal that, notwithstanding that, the services that Lancashire provides result in primary school children in Fleetwood having to be taught in corridors?

Mr. Redwood

My hon. Friend's excellent example bears out what has been said about the contrast between Conservative and Labour councils. When I went to Lancashire recently, I heard at first hand about the excessive expenditure on banquets and publicity and about the 133 committees that are considered necessary to run the council. I hope that there will soon be a Conservative authority that can cut down on the unnecessary spending and give value for money—just as Hampshire gives value for money under Conservative control.

Mr. Henderson

The House will understand that the Minister has felt bound today to wind up his arguments about local government now that the Conservative party is receiving its returns from the various counties around the country. However, does he not accept that his answer to Question 2 directly contradicts what he said in respect of Question 1? The reason Labour councils receive higher levels of grant is that generally they represent more deprived areas. Does the hon. Gentleman not also accept that there is great disquiet around the country because people recognise that the current system is completely discredited when Bournemouth is considered to be more deprived than Barnsley, when the mining area of Chester-le-Street is considered to be less deprived than Huntingdon and when Tory-controlled Kent county council receives £268 per head in grant compared with £234 in Staffordshire? Will the Minister bring forward the results of the review quickly and stop the slanting in favour of Conservative authorities?

Mr. Redwood

The hon. Gentleman has not been listening to the exchanges so far today. I have made it very clear that Labour authorities are receiving the extra grant and they are imposing the extra taxes. If the hon. Gentleman is so keen to see the standard spending assessments and grants reviewed, will he make available Labour's evidence to our inquiry? I have asked him for that on many occasions, but I am still awaiting his testimony. I can only assume that Labour Members cannot agree among themselves on how they would like the system to be changed and they know full well that most Labour councils are benefiting greatly from it at the moment.