I am sure the hon. Gentleman could; he is being far too modest. On the hon. Gentleman's point about income tax and higher income tax payers, I am disappointed that we will not get anywhere near the amendments that I and others tabled on excluding higher income tax payers from...

I am sure the hon. Gentleman could; he is being far too modest. On the hon. Gentleman's point about income tax and higher income tax payers, I am disappointed that we will not get anywhere near the amendments that I and others tabled on excluding higher income tax payers from...

I honestly believe that the hon. Gentleman is in the market for a property in Wokingham, or if not Wokingham, Hart.

I honestly believe that the hon. Gentleman is in the market for a property in Wokingham, or if not Wokingham, Hart.

Once again, I am concerned about the lack of time, because I would have loved to have had a proper debate on amendments 59 and 60, which go to the heart of the problems we face. The amendments, which were tabled by the right hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich...

Once again, I am concerned about the lack of time, because I would have loved to have had a proper debate on amendments 59 and 60, which go to the heart of the problems we face. The amendments, which were tabled by the right hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich...

You're going to buy a house there, aren't you?

You're going to buy a house there, aren't you?

Let me first declare my interest as one who is still a member of a local authority. Is the right hon. Gentleman, like me, aware that some authorities have expressed the fear that they will have to make cuts in this year's expenditure to prepare the ground for the implementation...

Let me first declare my interest as one who is still a member of a local authority. Is the right hon. Gentleman, like me, aware that some authorities have expressed the fear that they will have to make cuts in this year's expenditure to prepare the ground for the implementation...

The information from the LGA is very helpful, but it is an average. In some areas, the cut will be far worse than £6 a week because the number of pensioners and others who are protected will be greater. In some local authority areas in my constituency, people could lose...

The information from the LGA is very helpful, but it is an average. In some areas, the cut will be far worse than £6 a week because the number of pensioners and others who are protected will be greater. In some local authority areas in my constituency, people could lose...

I agree entirely with the point made by the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey). The real problem is that local authorities that cut their reserves will be penalised by their district auditor, who will say that cutting reserves below a certain level is not stable local...

I agree entirely with the point made by the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey). The real problem is that local authorities that cut their reserves will be penalised by their district auditor, who will say that cutting reserves below a certain level is not stable local...

I agree entirely. Some hon. Members like me, have close-knit communities that are right next to communities in other local authorities. People on one side of the road will have a different scheme from those on the other side. It will be horrendously difficult to explain why one scheme prevails...

I agree entirely. Some hon. Members like me, have close-knit communities that are right next to communities in other local authorities. People on one side of the road will have a different scheme from those on the other side. It will be horrendously difficult to explain why one scheme prevails...

The Secretary of State will be making a grave error of judgment if he thinks he is going to get away with that in Portsmouth, because I will be telling people there loud and clear where the responsibility for the change lies. Above all, I am disappointed that a Secretary...

The Secretary of State will be making a grave error of judgment if he thinks he is going to get away with that in Portsmouth, because I will be telling people there loud and clear where the responsibility for the change lies. Above all, I am disappointed that a Secretary...

May I say how nice it is to see you in the Chair, Mr Crausby? I wish to raise my concern about the fact that we are approaching 7 o'clock and will hardly get halfway down the selection list. The time available is totally inadequate. Goodness knows what the Government...

May I say how nice it is to see you in the Chair, Mr Crausby? I wish to raise my concern about the fact that we are approaching 7 o'clock and will hardly get halfway down the selection list. The time available is totally inadequate. Goodness knows what the Government...

I do not agree with the benefits being devolved to local authorities, so what does the hon. Gentleman, who is arguing against localising the benefits under discussion, see as the real benefit of doing so?

I do not agree with the benefits being devolved to local authorities, so what does the hon. Gentleman, who is arguing against localising the benefits under discussion, see as the real benefit of doing so?