Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has provided additional (a) funding and (b) support to Birmingham City Council to facilitate the ending of the council's bin collection industrial action.

The department has not provided additional funding to Birmingham City Council to facilitate the end of the dispute in its waste service. The dispute is a local issue, so it is for the Council and Unite to find a sustainable solution, which we urge them to do in the interest of local residents. The Government took action last spring in lock step with the Council to clear the accumulation of waste and Commissioners are present at the Council to support its wider improvement journey.