SHIPLEY MP Philip Davies is calling for a Commons debate into how local authorities are using council tax revenue meant for social care.

He said Bradford Council upped its council tax by 3.99 per cent, which included a new two per cent levy to raise money for social care.

But he claimed only a small proportion of the cash had been spent on the independent care home sector.

"We need a debate to find out exactly what was intended by Government for this money to go to," said Mr Davies, whose constituency includes Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston.

"This way we can make sure councils up and down the country are spending it to help care homes pay for things like the National Living Wage, which I thought was its intention."

He said the Government had announced that councils facing a social care funding crisis could add two per cent to their council tax bills to raise extra funds.

Commons leader Chris Grayling responded: "What Mr Davies has identified is what we often find ourselves, that when it comes to Labour councils they do not spend the money on the services that matter but spend it on bloated bureaucracies and on their own interests."

But Bradford Council leader, Councillor David Green, dismisses the claims.

"Philip Davies hasn't produced any figures to justify what he is saying," said Cllr Green.

"Every penny of the money raised from the additional two per cent is ringfenced and has all gone into adult social care, but due to the effects of Government cuts it won't meet the whole cost."