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Rating (Empty Properties) Bill

It is a pleasure to take part in the Third Reading debate, as it was to take part in the Ways and Means debate, Second Reading and Committee stage. It has been a particular pleasure because of the calm, courteous, always amusing, helpful, thoughtful, lucid and authoritative contributions of the Minister for Local Government. I am moved to compliment the Minister on his choice of newspaper. I did not know that he was a reader of The Times, and I am grateful that he enjoys that newspaper, as we all do. However, I must commiserate with him on the conclusion of the paper’s leading article on the question of who should be deputy leader of the Labour party, and in due course Deputy Prime Minister. The Times plumped for the right hon. Member for Salford (Hazel Blears) as deputy leader of the Labour party.