To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to extend or repeat the transition funding provided to local authorities in respect of council tax support schemes. [160369]

Brandon Lewis: The transitional grant, as the name suggests, was a voluntary grant for the first year of the new system of local council tax support. We have been clear from the outset that it was intended to give councils time to transition to the new localised regime and realise greater efficiencies—such as cutting the £200 million wasted from council tax benefit fraud and error.

The localisation of council tax support is helping tackle the deficit inherited from the last Administration, delivering ongoing savings of £470 million a year of taxpayers' money. This welfare reform has given all councils stronger incentives to cut fraud, promote local enterprise and get people back into work. 

 

Source: hansard 18 June