WELWYN Hatfield MP Grant Shapps, the local government and housing minister, has admitted the Comprehensive Spending Review is “tough” and that everyone is going to “take some of the pain”.
The Conservative minister spoke to the Welwyn Hatfield Times from Westminster, following Chancellor George Osborne’s speech to the House of Commons today (Wednesday).
Mr Shapps welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement of a �6.5bn investment in housing, but defended the 28 per cent cuts in funding to local authorities over four years.
“After months of work it’s nice to have it out there,” Mr Shapps said. “At least people know now – it’s good they can start to understand the changes.”
“The reductions in central Government funding was pretty much in line with what people expected. But this isn’t the final detail; this is a section of funding local councils receive.
“It’s tough, there’s no disguising that and everyone is going to end up taking some of the pain.
“But I hope many people, and certainly the residents of Welwyn Hatfield, will realise that it isn’t fair to carry on spending and letting our children carry on paying for it.”
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