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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations she has received from the National Association of Local Councils on the potential effect of higher National Insurance contributions on (a) town and (b) parish councils.

Ministers and officials regularly meet with a wide range of stakeholders from the local government sector. Baroness Taylor, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State met with the National Association of Local Councils on Tuesday 28 February.

The government recognises the important role town and parish councils have in improving the quality of life and wellbeing of their communities but has no direct role in funding parish and town councils, and therefore has not provided compensation, consistent with the approach taken by the previous government.

We recognise that the increase in the rate of employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will lead to increased costs for some parish councils, which will require them to increase their precept. We recognise that decisions to increase precepts are not taken lightly by parish councils.