Local Government Finance Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 6:06 pm on 23 January 2017.

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Photo of Kevin Hollinrake Kevin Hollinrake Conservative, Thirsk and Malton 6:06, 23 January 2017

My hon. Friend talks about protecting local authorities from changes. I welcome his commitment to a fairer funding formula, but is he aware that nine of the 10 authorities with the highest spending power in the country are in London, yet nine of the 10 lowest council tax authorities are also in London? Does he agree that a fairer funding formula needs to take into account the cost drivers behind need in local areas and to be for local people, rather than simply taking into account what has gone before? Rather than being about regression, this needs to be about need and the cost of delivering the services.