MP Ian Liddell-Grainger wants new funding deal for rural areas

MPs demanding a fairer Government funding deal for rural areas have secured a Commons debate on the issue tonight.

And one of them, Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, says it could mark a turning point in the way cash is handed to local authorities.

MP Ian Liddell-Grainger

Mr Liddell-Grainger, whose Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency includes some of the country’s most sparsely-populated areas, is one of 50 MPs who backed the Rural Services Network in condemning government funding policies. They say the way grants are calculated ignores the increased cost of delivering services in rural areas.

Under recently-announced allocations, for instance, predominantly rural local authorities will see an average 3.81 per cent reduction in formula funding compared with a 2.04 per cent cut for urban authorities. Authorities that are ‘significantly’ rural will fare even worse with a cut averaging 5.21 per cent.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013

Mr Liddell-Grainger said Sedgemoor District Council would see its grant rise by 20 per cent if it were assessed like an urban authority.

“The government knows the system is unfair but it really doesn’t know how to set about putting it right,” he said.

“Hopefully the debate may start the ball rolling because I know many of us have very sound ideas as to how it could be done. A minister will have to attend and we shall be doing everything in our power to send him back not merely better-informed about the problem, but equipped with possible ways of tackling it.”