Local Government Finance

Ian Roome Excerpts

Wednesday 17th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern]

I thank my hon. Friend, who is an impressive champion for his constituency; the people of Welwyn Hatfield should be proud of him. When we are thinking about deprivation, we are determined for it not to be a question of one part of the country against another. It is simply about being led by the evidence: identifying poverty and deprivation wherever it exists—including its cause, which, as my hon. Friend says, can be housing costs. We will keep doing that and take decisions on that basis.

[Ian Roome (North Devon) (LD)]

As an ex-council leader, I welcome the multi-year settlement and am glad that the Government have listened; I have campaigned for it for many years, so thank you.

I welcome the remoteness element. In my constituency of North Devon, we have North Devon council and also the wider Devon county council. Could the Minister describe what percentage the remoteness allocation will represent for places such as Devon and North Devon district council?

[Alison McGovern]

I thank the hon. Gentleman and former council leader for his question. It is nice to have a bit of agreement at Christmas, Madam Deputy Speaker—if it is over multi-year settlements, then then so be it. I will write to him with the specific details about his area and how the remoteness formula affects the council's funding.