---

Business Rate Supplements Bill

My Lords, I am glad that I read the amendments correctly as bringing the Bill into line with the mandatory ballot arrangements that I put to the House last week, supported by the noble Lord, Lord Bates. I am extremely grateful to those responsible for the drafting of the Bill for dealing with parts of it that, honestly, had passed me by and should not have done. I therefore support the amendments. As this is the first occasion on which I have spoken on this stage of the Bill, I should declare an interest as joint president of London Councils and a charity, the Rose Theatre in Kingston, which is a ratepayer.