§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes there will be in the precepting powers via the council tax if regional chambers become elected regional assemblies. [120718]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe voluntary regional chambers have no council tax precepting powers.
Elected regional assemblies will be completely new directly elected bodies with additional important regional responsibilities.
Chapter 5 of our 2002 White Paper, "Your Region, Your Choice: Revitalising the English Regions" (Cm 5511), set out the funding arrangements for elected assemblies. Elected assemblies will have a power to precept on the council tax in their region to fund programme expenditure and running costs. They will be accountable to their taxpayers and voters for the precepts that they set, and will also be subject to a capping regime.