24. To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much Band D council tax has increased on average in (a) England and (b) South Bedfordshire in absolute and percentage terms since 1997-98. (269467)

The average Band D council tax, including parish precepts, in South Bedfordshire has increased by £843 or 106 per cent. between 1997-98 and 2009-10. In England as a whole, the increases in the same period are £726 and 106 per cent.

Because of the formation of the new Central Bedfordshire authority the figure used for 2009-10 is not strictly comparable with those for previous years.