§ 3. Mr. Michael Jack (Fylde)What steps his Department has taken to respond to representations from Lancashire county council on the expected level of council tax in Lancashire in 2003–04. [93768]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Christopher Leslie)The level of council tax in Lancashire is a matter for the local authorities concerned.
§ Mr. JackThat was a complacent answer, to say the least. The Minister for Local Government and the Regions said a moment ago that the Government had been generous, but Labour-controlled Lancashire county council says that it does not have enough money and is trying to live within its means. Will the Minister provide my constituents with a cogent explanation of why they face a council tax increase that is three times the rate of inflation? [Interruption.]
Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. Before the Minister responds, I must tell the House that there is far too much conversation going on, and that that is making it very difficult for these exchanges to be heard clearly.
§ Mr. LeslieI suspect that the right hon. Gentleman should wait until the county council sets its council tax.
865 Lancashire county council is expecting to get a 4.8 per cent. increase in grant. Fylde district council in the right hon. Gentleman's area is pencilled in for an increase of 8.8 per cent., and Wyre district council for 12.8 per cent. As far as the Government are concerned, the grant support is there. There can be very few excuses for excessive council tax rises.
§ Mr. Peter Pike (Burnley)Does my hon. Friend accept that Lancashire county council is clearly saying that 4.8 per cent. is not sufficient, and that it has had a raw deal in comparison with other shire county councils? It will have either to cut services or to make an unacceptably high council tax increase.
§ Mr. LeslieIn the context of the history of local government settlements, 4.8 per cent. for Lancashire is very generous indeed—well above the rate of inflation. I have never known a council say, "Thank you for the wonderful grant increases," but I think that that is a reasonable settlement.