Debates between Greg Clark and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Greg Clark and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
Monday 8th February 2016

(8 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Greg Clark Portrait Greg Clark
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It is a long-established fact that Conservative councils offer lower council tax than Labour councils, which accounts for their success and their majority in local government.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Portrait Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Cotswolds) (Con)
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Can my right hon. Friend say whether the gap between urban and rural authorities is widening? If it is widening in favour of urban authorities, will not the council tax payers in rural authorities, who are going to see their council tax rise considerably over the next three years, have to conclude that they are subsidising higher-spending urban authorities?

Greg Clark Portrait Greg Clark
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My hon. Friend knows that we are moving to a world in which councils will be funded by council tax and business rates. It is essential that the formula underpinning that is fair to all types of authority. That has been very clear in representations that he and others have made.