MP Peter Pike has clashed with a government minister over cuts in funding for local councils in Lancashire.

He told environment spokesman Sir Paul Beresford that Burnley and its neighbours were in desperate need of money after years of cutbacks.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he said: "Lancashire has an acute need for more money. It believes in the provision of services. We need more money from the government and we need it now.

"Before I came to the house I was a member of Burnley council. I used to think that the position could not get worse, yet, year after year, it gets worse.

"In Lancashire the band D council tax will increase 5.5 per cent. Yet at the same time, the council has had to cut the services it provides because of the government's appalling national underfunding."

The minister replied: "I am sorry for the honourable gentleman's constituency. The difficulty is that his constituents have a Labour county council. The honourable gentleman's other difficulty is that Burnley is also run by Labour.

"In terms of funding for 1996-7 Lancashire compares favourably with the other shire counties. On a comparative basis, Lancashire's standard spending assessment has increased by 3.1 per cent.

"Local authorities must realise that they can squeeze full value out of every pound they spend. They must be more effective and must provide better services."

Mr Pike later criticised Sir Paul. He told the Citizen: "The minister fails to recognise the needs of Burnley and Lancashire."

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