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Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill

I would give the same reason that Ministers have already given—that we have a unique opportunity to review the role and functions of local government, not just the method of financing it. I greatly welcome that opportunity. As I said earlier, I have spent a large proportion of my adult life engaged in local government and over that time I have seen how local government has become thoroughly demoralised by the apparent diminution of its ability to influence what happens on the ground in our local communities and by the increase in central Government control over the same period. That is why I welcome the opportunity provided by the Lyons inquiry of having a thorough, root-and-branch review of what local government does and how it is financed and funded. I thoroughly welcome the fact that the Government have taken a turn in policy on that matter and now support a thorough review. I have suggested that I have some mixed feelings, but, on balance, I greatly favour the Bill that is before us today. I shall certainly vote in favour of postponing revaluation and I look forward to a renewal of local government and local democracy, which is promised as part of the review. I ask the Minister, however, to give an assurance that, in the intervening period, he and his colleagues will continue to try to find some solutions to the inequities in the current formula that underpins Government funding.