§ Helen JonesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the rate of local income tax which would be necessary to fund services provided by Warrington Borough Council(a) if such a tax were levied on all those employed in Warrington and (b) if such a tax were levied on residents of Warrington. [140035]
§ Phil HopeThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no estimate of these matters. The Steering Group of the Balance of Funding Review, chaired by my rt. hon. Friend the member for Greenwich and Woolwich, has asked external organisations to give evidence on a number of issues put to it by consultees, which include the case for introducing some form of local income tax. We have made clear that the fact that the group is looking at the issues put to it does not mean that the Government endorses them.