§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy on reduction of the payment of council tax benefit subsidy to local authorities that make council tax increases which he judges to be excessive; if he will make an exception to his policy for Worcestershire; and if he will make a statement. [144513]
§ Ms Beverley Hughes[holding answer 8 January 2001]: The Government believe that local authorities making steep increases in council tax should themselves meet part of the escalating council tax benefit bill resulting from their decisions. The Council Tax Benefit Subsidy Limitation (CTBSL) scheme was introduced to 490W achieve this. The Government announced the proposed details of the scheme for 2001–02 on 27 November 2000 for consultation.