Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill

You will stop me if I stray too far in responding to that question, Madam Deputy Speaker. I do not accept the hon. Gentleman’s allegation. For a period, I was sponsor Minister of the city of Derby, and I did whatever I could, whenever I could, to bring more money and investment into the city. Make no mistake that bullying takes place. Birmingham city council has removed one of the Government’s precious bus lanes to reduce congestion, and the Secretary of State has threatened the council with loss of grant unless it reinstates that lane. Ministers do make threats to local authorities, so my concern is not exaggerated or far-fetched. My hon. Friend the Member for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford) described me as paranoid on this issue. I would put it this way: I am rightly concerned about corruption of power. Are we to pass a sloppily drafted amendment that gives a Secretary of State the unfettered right to make an order in any circumstances that he chooses? The amendment puts no limitations on the exercise of his power; nor does it say that he has to consider what has happened to property values or to population movement. I am deeply concerned that the provision could be used in an unfair way.