Business of the House

Rachael Maskell Excerpts

Thursday 4th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

More than 80 colleagues are bobbing. Unless Members are short in their contributions, they are denying others the opportunity to get in.

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Ind)]

Many parameters of the fair funding review will address social injustices in our communities, but places like York will lose out significantly. It is already the lowest-funded unitary authority in the country, the Lib Dem council previously spent all the reserves and we cannot afford to make further cuts. Will the Leader of the House ensure that local authorities that are going to lose out under the fair funding review can meet the Minister and have discussions before the parameters are published?

[Lucy Powell]

I thank the hon. Lady for raising the issues around fair funding. I know this is a really important matter for a number of colleagues. She will be aware that the Deputy Prime Minister has ensured a record local government funding settlement, but the hon. Lady is absolutely right: the devil is in the detail and we need to ensure that funding follows need. I will certainly arrange for her to have a meeting with the Minister.