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Business Rate Supplements Bill

Before I withdraw the amendment, those who asked me to table it have had some discussions with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs which they did not find particularly positive. It is difficult to see why that should be so. I hope that the noble Baroness, to whom I am most grateful for undertaking to write, can put the case as firmly as she can. It is clearly in the interests of all of us who want to see this great scheme come to fruition. This project has been in my consciousness for well over 20 years, and one now sees the prospect of it starting; indeed, the Prime Minister dug the first hole, or whatever it was, for one of the stations the other day. However, there is no question but that tax deductibility of voluntary contributions could make a considerable impact upon the willingness of business to put them up.