Local Government Finance

Yesterday the departments answering questions were the Departments for Culture, Media and Sport and the new International Trade department. This was followed by the announcement of the next few days business both in the run up to the recess and thereafter. I asked whether there would be time to have a debate on essential services so we could thank all those in vital services who will be working over the Christmas period. Then there was the annual statement on the allocation of the local government finance settlement. As the allocations were done last year for four years there was less of a surprise than perhaps there has been in previous years. The main change was that the precept Councils can add to raise more money to pay for adult care will be 3% per annum for two years rather than two percent for three years. What is needed is a long term solution and as successive governments have found it is much easier said than done.