Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Local Authority Funding: Cumbria

Monday 22 February 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Local authorities in Cumbria will see their core spending power rise to more than 483 million in 2021-22.
  • Neil Hudson suggested Cumbria County Council use available funds to support rural bus routes.
  • Cumbria County Council has the flexibility to invest in bus services using the 20 million increase from the local government finance settlement.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Neil Hudson Con Epping Forest
Local Government

Question

What steps his Department is taking to increase funding for local authorities in Cumbria.

Answer from Luke Hall

Core spending power in England will rise from £49 billion in this financial year to £51.3 billion in 2021-22, which is a 4.6% cash-terms increase—a real-terms rise. Councils in Cumbria will see their core spending power rise to more than £483 million—a 4.5% increase in cash terms—and they will also receive more than £30 million in un-ringfenced covid support to help them to build back better in the next financial year.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Neil Hudson Con Epping Forest
Transport Local Government
Context

Rural bus services are a lifeline for people in Penrith and The Border. In 2014, Cumbria County Council decided to stop using central Government funds to subsidise commercial bus services, which has had a negative impact on provision.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that the council should change its position and use the available funds to support rural bus routes to allow people to go about their lives, reconnect and help to address the issue of rural isolation?

Answer from Luke Hall

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. He is a champion for the community that he represents. Cumbria County Council has the flexibility to invest in these bus services, perhaps even using some of the £20 million increase it will receive through the local government finance settlement. Through the Department for Transport, we are also providing an additional £20 million rural mobility fund to support services in rural and suburban areas, with Cumbria successful at phase 1 and a business case submitted for review at phase 2.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email