My right hon. Friend’s excellent speech is dealing in detail and authority with the amendment’s proposals, but does he agree that proposed paragraph (d) of amendment No. 6 is especially important? I know that he has been devoted to the cause of ensuring that our high streets remain healthy. Is...

My right hon. Friend’s excellent speech is dealing in detail and authority with the amendment’s proposals, but does he agree that proposed paragraph (d) of amendment No. 6 is especially important? I know that he has been devoted to the cause of ensuring that our high streets remain healthy. Is...

Thank you, Mrs. Heal. Does my right hon. Friend agree that, when we are considering empty properties in which commercial activity is going on, it is vital that we should not neglect the built environment and buildings of historic distinction in particular?

Thank you, Mrs. Heal. Does my right hon. Friend agree that, when we are considering empty properties in which commercial activity is going on, it is vital that we should not neglect the built environment and buildings of historic distinction in particular?

I note the gracious way in which the Minister has acknowledged that consultation will take place on the ““taking the roof off”” issue, but he will remember from Second Reading what we might characterise as the ““windy night”” debate. I should say, for the benefit of Hansard, that that is...

I note the gracious way in which the Minister has acknowledged that consultation will take place on the ““taking the roof off”” issue, but he will remember from Second Reading what we might characterise as the ““windy night”” debate. I should say, for the benefit of Hansard, that that is...

The Minister is indeed not daft, but he is unnecessarily evasive. As he kindly acknowledged, the amendments deal specifically with a requirement that properties that are the subject of planning applications should be exempt. The Government are about to undertake one of the biggest upheavals to the planning system, perhaps...

The Minister is indeed not daft, but he is unnecessarily evasive. As he kindly acknowledged, the amendments deal specifically with a requirement that properties that are the subject of planning applications should be exempt. The Government are about to undertake one of the biggest upheavals to the planning system, perhaps...

Sir Alan, if I have made my point in a way that is satisfactory to, and understood by, the Chair, I am sure that it will be understood by all other Members. I commend the amendments to the House.

Sir Alan, if I have made my point in a way that is satisfactory to, and understood by, the Chair, I am sure that it will be understood by all other Members. I commend the amendments to the House.

I am grateful to the Minister for taking that opportunity to clarify the position. I knew that he meant no ill by his comment. If anything, his comments in the previous debate were evidence of his ludic wit, not a reflection of any desire to condemn the operation of Palmer...

I am grateful to the Minister for taking that opportunity to clarify the position. I knew that he meant no ill by his comment. If anything, his comments in the previous debate were evidence of his ludic wit, not a reflection of any desire to condemn the operation of Palmer...

Thank you, Sir Alan, for your helpful advice. The reason why Treasury Ministers spoke was not any lack of confidence in ministerial colleagues, but the fact that this measure is palpably a straightforward tax demand. It is not about the more efficient use of land. It is about the more...

Thank you, Sir Alan, for your helpful advice. The reason why Treasury Ministers spoke was not any lack of confidence in ministerial colleagues, but the fact that this measure is palpably a straightforward tax demand. It is not about the more efficient use of land. It is about the more...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Alan. I thank you for the advice that you and your office extended to me, and to my hon. Friends, in framing and tabling the amendments. I apologise for not having been here for the opening of the Committee stage....

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Alan. I thank you for the advice that you and your office extended to me, and to my hon. Friends, in framing and tabling the amendments. I apologise for not having been here for the opening of the Committee stage....

The Minister is making an interesting case. He argues that it would be wrong to include exemptions in primary legislation and that they are suitable for regulation. However, as my right hon. and hon. Friends have pointed out, sporting clubs and charitable organisations are specifically exempt from the Bill. That...

The Minister is making an interesting case. He argues that it would be wrong to include exemptions in primary legislation and that they are suitable for regulation. However, as my right hon. and hon. Friends have pointed out, sporting clubs and charitable organisations are specifically exempt from the Bill. That...

It is a pleasure to take part in the Third Reading debate, as it was to take part in the Ways and Means debate, Second Reading and Committee stage. It has been a particular pleasure because of the calm, courteous, always amusing, helpful, thoughtful, lucid and authoritative contributions of the...

It is a pleasure to take part in the Third Reading debate, as it was to take part in the Ways and Means debate, Second Reading and Committee stage. It has been a particular pleasure because of the calm, courteous, always amusing, helpful, thoughtful, lucid and authoritative contributions of the...

I am grateful for that guidance, Sir Michael. I was simply directed by the knowledge that the Minister has been playing a part as campaign manager for one of the candidates in the deputy leadership race. There is another campaign manager for another candidate in the Chamber at the moment—whose...

I am grateful for that guidance, Sir Michael. I was simply directed by the knowledge that the Minister has been playing a part as campaign manager for one of the candidates in the deputy leadership race. There is another campaign manager for another candidate in the Chamber at the moment—whose...

And the Evening Standard. The Minister sought to convince us that because the FSB had supported a change in the legislation we should accept what he was trying to bring about. However, on Second Reading we heard from my hon. Friends that the case made by the Federation of Small...

And the Evening Standard. The Minister sought to convince us that because the FSB had supported a change in the legislation we should accept what he was trying to bring about. However, on Second Reading we heard from my hon. Friends that the case made by the Federation of Small...

I am grateful to the Minister for making his case, but he invites us to take on trust his assurances about amendment No. 5 and to accept his argument on amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 4. We cannot do that. He accepts that amendment No. 5 serves the purpose about...

I am grateful to the Minister for making his case, but he invites us to take on trust his assurances about amendment No. 5 and to accept his argument on amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 4. We cannot do that. He accepts that amendment No. 5 serves the purpose about...

That is merely a variation of the argument that the Minister powerfully deployed against amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 4, which is that planning would be used as an anti-avoidance measure. We contend that no one would willingly go through the planning system unless they had to, given the system’s...

That is merely a variation of the argument that the Minister powerfully deployed against amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 4, which is that planning would be used as an anti-avoidance measure. We contend that no one would willingly go through the planning system unless they had to, given the system’s...

I might have misheard but, in trying to follow the Minister’s logic, I fear that I might have misunderstood him. Is he genuinely asserting that owners of community facilities, such as those who are responsible for village halls, would wilfully keep those premises empty and would need the goad of...

I might have misheard but, in trying to follow the Minister’s logic, I fear that I might have misunderstood him. Is he genuinely asserting that owners of community facilities, such as those who are responsible for village halls, would wilfully keep those premises empty and would need the goad of...

I beg to move amendment No. 2, page 1, line 5, leave out ‘subsection (4A)’ and insert subsections (4A) and (4B)’.

I beg to move amendment No. 2, page 1, line 5, leave out ‘subsection (4A)’ and insert subsections (4A) and (4B)’.

Rating (Empty Properties) Bill. Committee stage. Clause 1 debated. Amendment 6 negatived on division (143 votes to 236). Amendment 2 negatived on division (134 votes to 236). Amendment 1 negatived on division (134 votes to 232). Clauses 1, 2 and 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Schedules 1 and 2 agreed to. Bill reported without amendment. Third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Passed.

Rating (Empty Properties) Bill. Committee stage. Clause 1 debated. Amendment 6 negatived on division (143 votes to 236). Amendment 2 negatived on division (134 votes to 236). Amendment 1 negatived on division (134 votes to 232). Clauses 1, 2 and 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Schedules 1...