Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Local Government Association and (b) council leaders on Unite the Union's pay dispute in respect of the pay offer for local government employees.

Detailed employment matters such as pay are for local authorities, as independent employers, to determine through the usual processes. It is the responsibility of employers to make an assessment of what is affordable within the overall available resources. Ministers do not have a formal role in such matters.

Employers do of course have to pay the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. We recognise that pay and wages are one of a number of inflationary pressures facing local government. The government made significant additional resources available for local government at the autumn statement. The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2023/24 made available substantial additional funding for local government in England. This boost in funding demonstrates how Government stands behind councils up and down the country.

As negotiations continue, the department continues to monitor the issue through regular engagement with the Local Government Association and routine engagement with councils.