Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill

The hon. Gentleman should listen to this, or he will end up going into the Lobby and doing something very silly indeed. What could be more stupid than an amendment claiming to denounce revaluation, but with the effect that it will go steaming ahead—for that is the effect of the amendment standing in the name of the Leader of the Opposition? By opposing Second Reading, by declining to give the Bill a Second Reading, the Opposition want take the brakes off revaluation. The automated valuation model, which they spent the weekend saying was such a detestation, will be whirring like there is no tomorrow if they have their way. The Opposition talk about supporting reform, but in the words of one of their Members, they are the roadblock to reform on this occasion. I hope that all Opposition Members realise that if they support their amendment, they will be voting for revaluation to go ahead, and we look forward to reminding them of that in the years ahead. Sir Michael Lyons has made it clear that any proposals for reform of the funding system raise complex issues, and the Government have agreed that they need to be set firmly and explicitly within the context of a clear, shared understanding of the role of local government and of councils’ accountability to service users. It is for that reason that we have extended the terms of reference for Sir Michael’s inquiry into local government funding. In turn, we decided to postpone revaluation from 2007. We have recognised that to proceed with revaluation at this time would not be the right thing to do. The Bill, therefore, puts revaluation on hold, and I commend it to the House.