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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the level above which local authorities can raise the social care precept before triggering a local referendum.

Decisions on council tax levels are for local authorities although the Government sets referendum principles each year to protect residents from excessive increases. The Department is currently consulting on the principles for 2024-25. Following consideration of responses, the principles will be subject to the approval of the House of Commons alongside the local government finance settlement.