My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Minister for the Courts and Legal Aid (Shailesh Vara) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

"Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has prepared a Trust Statement providing an account of the collection of revenues which are due to be...

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Minister for the Courts and Legal Aid (Shailesh Vara) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

"Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has prepared a Trust Statement providing an account of the collection of revenues which are due to be...

Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has prepared a Trust Statement providing an account of the collection of revenues which are due to be paid to HM Treasury. The Statement includes the value of fines and confiscation orders imposed by the judiciary; fixed penalties imposed by the...

Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has prepared a Trust Statement providing an account of the collection of revenues which are due to be paid to HM Treasury. The Statement includes the value of fines and confiscation orders imposed by the judiciary; fixed penalties imposed by the...

Committee stage sixth sitting (morning). Written evidence reported to the House. Programme order amended. Clauses 16 to 22 agreed to. Schedule 2 agreed to. Clause 23 agreed to. Clause 24 under consideration when the Committee adjourned till Tuesday 3 February at half-past Ten o'clock.

Committee stage sixth sitting (morning). Written evidence reported to the House. Programme order amended. Clauses 16 to 22 agreed to. Schedule 2 agreed to. Clause 23 agreed to. Clause 24 under consideration when the Committee adjourned till Tuesday 3 February at half-past Ten o'clock.

My point is to suggest further reforms that may be introduced as amendments to the Bill, which reforms the business rates regime, as it passes through the Palace of Westminster.

My point is to suggest further reforms that may be introduced as amendments to the Bill, which reforms the business rates regime, as it passes through the Palace of Westminster.

I appreciate that, but I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will also appreciate that some benefits will be more apparent, more direct and more extensive in certain parts of London in comparison with others—an inevitable consequence of living in a capital city. The issue is whether the Greater...

I appreciate that, but I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will also appreciate that some benefits will be more apparent, more direct and more extensive in certain parts of London in comparison with others—an inevitable consequence of living in a capital city. The issue is whether the Greater...

Of course, I accept your guidance, Madam Deputy Speaker, but you will recognise how provoked I was. Business has faced £66 billion of regulatory costs since the Government came to power. There are 800,000 people on the public sector payroll; only the wealth-producing sector has to support that. I am...

Of course, I accept your guidance, Madam Deputy Speaker, but you will recognise how provoked I was. Business has faced £66 billion of regulatory costs since the Government came to power. There are 800,000 people on the public sector payroll; only the wealth-producing sector has to support that. I am...

May I urge my right hon. Friend to take a robust view on this issue? The Conservatives appear to be advocating an approach that would make it impossible for Crossrail to be funded. If individual London boroughs opted out and power was taken away from the Mayor of London—who is...

May I urge my right hon. Friend to take a robust view on this issue? The Conservatives appear to be advocating an approach that would make it impossible for Crossrail to be funded. If individual London boroughs opted out and power was taken away from the Mayor of London—who is...

Has my right hon. Friend reflected, during his consideration leading to the introduction of the Bill, on the fact that the contribution to local government finance from the business rate has systematically declined as a proportion of the total amount of revenue coming in because of clauses in the original...

Has my right hon. Friend reflected, during his consideration leading to the introduction of the Bill, on the fact that the contribution to local government finance from the business rate has systematically declined as a proportion of the total amount of revenue coming in because of clauses in the original...

The hon. Gentleman will know that Crossrail is a project of such size, significance and length, in terms of the construction period, that it would be completely unrealistic for the Mayor of London to think of any other possible use for the business rate supplement in the next decade.

The hon. Gentleman will know that Crossrail is a project of such size, significance and length, in terms of the construction period, that it would be completely unrealistic for the Mayor of London to think of any other possible use for the business rate supplement in the next decade.

Does the Minister not recognise that the issue of additionality fills us with a certain amount of gloom? After all, it is less than a decade and a half since the national lottery was introduced, with much the same idea of additionality in mind. Is there not a concern that,...

Does the Minister not recognise that the issue of additionality fills us with a certain amount of gloom? After all, it is less than a decade and a half since the national lottery was introduced, with much the same idea of additionality in mind. Is there not a concern that,...

Although we have been talking about Crossrail very much in terms of London, it will go out as far as Maidenhead in the west and we hope that, ultimately, it will come to Reading. Will my constituents have to pay the supplementary business rate for Crossrail to come to Reading?...

Although we have been talking about Crossrail very much in terms of London, it will go out as far as Maidenhead in the west and we hope that, ultimately, it will come to Reading. Will my constituents have to pay the supplementary business rate for Crossrail to come to Reading?...

That point very well demonstrates the pressures businesses are under and why the addition of even 2p in the pound on the business rate in its current form—about 4.3 per cent. on the current 46.2p business multiplier—would be an enormous burden on businesses, just as we hope they will be...

That point very well demonstrates the pressures businesses are under and why the addition of even 2p in the pound on the business rate in its current form—about 4.3 per cent. on the current 46.2p business multiplier—would be an enormous burden on businesses, just as we hope they will be...

The Bill allows local authorities, in proposing and implementing a business rate supplement, to make provision to exempt, if they choose, business rate payers on empty property. The hon. Gentleman will also be aware that in the pre-Budget report the Chancellor said that, given the current economic circumstances, the rateable...

The Bill allows local authorities, in proposing and implementing a business rate supplement, to make provision to exempt, if they choose, business rate payers on empty property. The hon. Gentleman will also be aware that in the pre-Budget report the Chancellor said that, given the current economic circumstances, the rateable...