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Planning-gain Supplement (Preparations) Bill

The Government’s proposal needs to be checked and I support my hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh (Mr. Francois) in suggesting that there is a need for much more study and consideration in Scotland before it could possibly progress. I wish to talk about the effects mentioned in his new clause, which could be quite serious and difficult for Scotland. I was pleased that he drew attention to the evidence of the Scottish Property Federation, which clearly believes that, if the measure went through, it would reduce the supply of development and development land in Scotland at a time when people feel that there needs to be more housing built in Scotland and when the great cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and elsewhere may need more development opportunities for additional office, commercial or retail space. It would be a great pity if the House allowed something to go through in preparation for a tax that would make that position worse rather than better. We are invited by the Government to believe that there are a number of people in Scotland currently sitting on land that might be suitable for development or buildings in the big cities that might be suitable for extension or demolition and replacement with better and bigger buildings who are not currently bringing those development opportunities through to the market but who, if a tax were imposed, would suddenly say, ““Oh good. I can now pay a tax on my development, so I must rush off to the local planning authority to put in my planning application.”” I know that there are some very altruistic people in Scotland, but I think that that is just a little incredible.