Independent Retailers

That is a valuable contribution on an important issue, and I am sure the Minister and his Treasury colleagues will take it into their thinking. My hon. Friend's intervention leads me neatly on to taxation and business rates. I take on board the points that were made earlier about timing, and the fact that we have revalued at exactly the wrong time, when the market is in recession, with figures from when the market was at its peak. I am sure that the Minister and his Cabinet colleagues have taken that on board and will consider it. However, I offer congratulations to, I think, the Treasury team, on thinking about a holiday—100% relief—between October this year and next September from business rates where rateable value is less than £6,000. That is an excellent thing to do, and I commend it. I would like that to be extended, if it works well. Hon. Members will be pleased to hear that I have now covered my six areas.