Council Tax (Hansard, 2 December 2002)

HC Deb 02 December 2002 vol 395 c621W 621W

§ Mr.Clifton-Brown
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if his Department will fully fund the new discretion to be given to local authorities to reduce council tax on hardship grounds. [84490]

§ Mr. Leslie
No. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) announced on 19 November 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has decided that authorities exercising the proposed new powers to create their own council tax discounts and exemptions will have to meet the costs of these new discounts or exemptions.