London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill

I do not know whether the Minister can distinguish those Londoners among those sitting in this room who pay only council tax and not national tax in some form or other. Most Londoners who pay council tax will pay the other sorts of tax which go towards what the Minister calls ““the Government’s cheque book””. We understand that there is no such thing—it is all of us who are paying it. The noble Lord says that London council tax payers, if this amendment were agreed, could say ““Oh, we are out of it at £625 million””. But we go and change our hats and find that we were not out of it. So it does not seek to exempt Londoners entirely, but only council tax payers. He also said that it was 38 pence a week. It is much more proper to think of this in terms of the amount per year. One pays very little on a weekly basis these days. But whether it is £10 per year or 38 pence a week it is a really good deal. That is why I seek to cap it. On the serious point of council tax bills, material can be included with them. As I said, the thought came to me only about an hour before the Committee started this afternoon: if there is something to be done, the Government might see their way to agreeing to it. There are other parties involved, but this seems to me a very good legislative opportunity, one which will not come along again in a hurry unless someone knows something about forthcoming local government legislation which I do not. Perhaps that is something we can pursue outside the Committee.