Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill

The Minister has rowed out on the issue of costs, and now he is attempting to row back. I do not want to be delayed a moment longer on the subject, but it is important to note that the Minister is using the low cost estimate to persuade the House that the amendments should be made. If the House agrees to the amendments without a vote, it will be doing so on the basis of the Minister’s assurances that the costs will be low. The Minister is effectively saying, ““Don’t worry, whatever the cost, we’ll reimburse local authorities.”” In my view—I do not have any formal responsibility for the Bill—that is a highly irresponsible undertaking to give to the House. I hope that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the ““big clunking fist””, is not listening. The Minister told us that he estimates the cost to be a few hundred pounds per local authority—