Business Rate Supplements Bill

Well, I enjoyed them, even if my noble friend did not. It was probably my enjoyment that she enjoyed least. More relevant to the Bill may be that, for those eight years, I chaired the finance committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority, so was responsible for the huge property estate that the Metropolitan Police has throughout Greater London and beyond, on which it of course pays business rates. Rather more currently relevant, I must again declare that I am a London borough councillor—that is particularly relevant to the amendment—and a member of the executive in the London Borough of Sutton. Indeed, I led that council for 13 years. It is perhaps also relevant to note that, according to the GLA’s guidance, Sutton is the London borough that benefits least from the coming of Crossrail. That coincidence enables me to say, as I did at Second Reading, that it in no way weakens my personal or my party’s commitment to Crossrail. Anything that I say, do or propose should not be taken as any wish to delay or jeopardise that long-needed project, which I have been considering for pretty well all my adult life in London politics—a very long time. The purpose of this amendment is very simple; it is to add London borough councils to the list of levying authorities. London borough councils are substantial unitary authorities, and have been for a very long time. They have all the duties of local government that pertain to local government in this country. They are now the major drivers of economic development in their area. Their relationship with local businesses has changed enormously in the past 15 or 20 years, probably without exception. All London boroughs work in very close partnership with the business community. That is probably even more the case as regards the relatively small part of the business community that will be affected by the Bill. Those are in the main the other key employers with a local authority in a London borough. The partnership is now strong and in many cases is mature, certainly in my borough. Sitting suspended for a Division in the House.