§ Lord Greavesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the reported statement by Councillor Tony Martin, cabinet member for finance on Lancashire County Council, at the county council meeting on 14 February, that the rise of 7.7 per cent in the Lancashire council tax for 85WA 2002–03 was caused by the "poor settlement figure from central Government"; if so, what was the reason for that figure. [HL3084]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonIt is for local authorities to decide the level of their council tax taking into account the level of services they wish to provide, their statutory responsibilities and the wishes of their electorate. We have provided local government overall with significant increases in funding in 2002–03. General grant to local authorities will increase by 5 per cent or £1.9 billion. The increases in grant have enabled the Government to set a floor for councils with education and social service responsibilities which guarantees an increase in general grant of at least 4 per cent. Lancashire County Council benefits from the floor and will receive an increase in the coining financial year of £26.673 million.