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Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

Well, yes! That is all very well, but is the noble Lord therefore saying that public servants in Northern Ireland should not get a pay increase next year? Of course not. Where will the pay increase come from—an increase from the ratepayer? That has nothing to do with the change from rates to the modern system. People in Northern Ireland will understand that. Their taxes are like that; it is exactly the same. If that is the argument, I shall be quite happy to have it. I am sure, however, that people do not want to go down the road of saying, ““Let’s freeze all the public sector pay in Northern Ireland, because we do not want to increase the rates””. Of course we are not going to do that. This change is not the reason for any increase to pay for public servants’ pay increases. The figures will show that at the time. I cannot make it any clearer than that. I do not want to raise temperatures here by raising figures. This has gone on for some years. You must make the case forcibly: there are more gainers than losers and more help for the low paid under the new system. If noble Lords want to vote down the order, they must face and argue against that. That is why I am labouring the point. It is a fairer, understandable system. If people want to vote against it on that basis, they must take responsibility for their actions. That is why I am presenting it as I have. On Question, Motion agreed to. The Committee adjourned at seven o’clock.