Oral Answers to Questions

Pat Glass Excerpts

Monday 28th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Julie Hilling (Bolton West) (Lab)]

8. What assessment he has made of the likely effects on the community and voluntary sector of reductions in levels of Government funding for local authorities.

[Pat Glass (North West Durham) (Lab)]

18. What assessment he has made of the likely effects on the community and voluntary sector of reductions in levels of Government funding for local authorities.

[The Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark)]

Spending decisions are a matter for local councils, but no council will see its spending power fall by more than 8.8% next year. Councils face difficult decisions owing to a fiscal crisis that was not of their making or of ours. The best councils are expanding the opportunities for the voluntary sector to help them to make savings. The worst-run councils are targeting the sector for disproportionate cuts. We are requiring all councils to be transparent in their actions.