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Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

My Lords, it is perfectly open to the noble Lord to say that, but if a hole in budget results from it, it is incumbent on him to say what he would do. One cannot simply say, ““No, we don’t like this”” when I have informed the House that the budget depends on it. We have to raise the money somehow—the money has to be raised. I have given the figures for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. I have set out the consequences of not proceeding with the water charge. It would leave a massive hole in the budget which would have to be found from the block.