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Rating (Empty Properties) Bill

I do not really need to declare an interest, unlike my hon. Friend the Member for Poole (Mr. Syms), but I believe in erring on the side of caution, so I shall start by saying that I am a non-practising lawyer and the owner of some property, all of which is occupied, mainly with classic and historic motor vehicles, but of course that may not always continue to be the case. My great concern about the legislation is the time scale. It is at the very least odd that the Government are proceeding with the legislation at such a pace; and at the very worst, it shows a disrespect for the public and Parliament. Now that we are in Committee, which followed so soon after Second Reading, we are forced to ask why the Bill was not subject to pre-legislative scrutiny, and why there was not wide consultation with interested parties and groups before the House was asked to make a decision on the matter. That is a relevant point to raise, because the Minister is seeking to hurry the legislation through at the very time when the Leader of the House, who chairs the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons, is telling us that he wants the Executive to have greater respect for Parliament, and to allow greater parliamentary scrutiny.