With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:
New clause 6—Determination of central and local shares—
‘(1) In determining the central share and the local share for any relevant authority, the Secretary of State must have regard to—
(a) the level of need in that authority, and
(b) the likely capacity of the authority to benefit from business rate growth.
(2) Any assessment of the level of need shall include—
(a) the ranking of the local authority in the Index of Multiple Deprivation,
(b) the level of unemployment within the authority’s area,
(c) the proportion of adults within the authority’s area who have a limiting long-term illness,
(d) the number of adults within the area who are in receipt of social care,
(e) the number of looked-after children within the authority, and
(f) the level of child poverty within the authority’s area.
(3) The Secretary of State must lay his assessment before the House at the same time as the Local Government Finance Report.’.
New clause 11—National business rate policy changes: consultation—
‘The Secretary of State may not make any changes to national business rate policy which impact on local business rate yields without first consulting with all interested parties.’.
Government amendments 15 to 17.
Amendment 62, page 12, line 13, schedule 1, leave out ‘each year’ and insert—
‘each financial year until the end of the financial year beginning 1 April 2014’.
Government amendments 18 and 19.
Amendment 63, page 23, line 40, at end insert—
‘(ca) by reference to the volatility caused by rating appeals following a revaluation;’.
Government amendments 20 to 41.
Government new clause 8—Payments to and from authorities.