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Finance Bill

I fully accept the Minister’s point that REITs were originally a Treasury proposal rather than one suggested by Opposition Front Benchers. Given the earlier comments of Conservative Front-Bench Members about the importance of having simplicity and stability in the tax system, does my hon. Friend find it rather strange to hear them arguing that we should rush ahead with legislation before we have had enough time to sort out the technical details? Surely it is in the interests of stability and transparency that we get the legislation right before we put proposals before the House.