Business Rate Supplements Bill

It is indeed a helpful suggestion, and I thank the Minister for that. On the timetable, of which we now have some bits of the jigsaw, it will clearly not be possible to meet 30 September because 40 days from 19 August takes us to about then. I have noticed that spring comes later in the House of Lords than in much of the rest of the world, as does autumn, which too often runs well into November. I am grateful to the noble Lords who have spoken. On the other amendments, I was seeking the concurrence with the NNDR. I certainly do not want to complicate the process. I realise that if my amendment were to be included, I could cause a fit among the officers at the GLA for whom I have much respect. I have no wish to complicate their lives, because I know how difficult it is to fix meetings to make decisions. Going backwards, on the costs of delegation, I suppose that the possibility of refusing a delegation covers the point if the costs cannot be sorted out. I am grateful to the Minister for that. I beg leave to withdraw Amendment 44A. Amendment 44A withdrawn. Clause 9 agreed. Clause 10 : Variations Amendments 45 to 47 not moved. Clause 10 agreed. Clause 11 agreed.