Amendment 58 would potentially allow the levying authority to determine when to stop collecting and enforcing a BRS for a project it had abandoned. The reason we do not think the amendment is appropriate is not because we do not think levying authorities would behave honourably but because it assumes...

Amendment 58 would potentially allow the levying authority to determine when to stop collecting and enforcing a BRS for a project it had abandoned. The reason we do not think the amendment is appropriate is not because we do not think levying authorities would behave honourably but because it assumes...

Clause 27: Special introductory provision Amendment 62 62: Clause 27, page 17, line 4, at end insert— "(1A) The requirements under section 7(1) or 10(7) to hold a ballot do not apply in relation to a BRS imposed by the Greater London Authority for the purpose of raising money for...

Clause 27: Special introductory provision Amendment 62 62: Clause 27, page 17, line 4, at end insert— "(1A) The requirements under section 7(1) or 10(7) to hold a ballot do not apply in relation to a BRS imposed by the Greater London Authority for the purpose of raising money for...

As Amendment 55B is consequential, I shall focus on Amendment 60A, which is grouped with it, and apologise for its length and complexity. This amendment provides the ability to broaden the way that business improvement districts are funded by giving BIDs the power to decide whether or not to include...

As Amendment 55B is consequential, I shall focus on Amendment 60A, which is grouped with it, and apologise for its length and complexity. This amendment provides the ability to broaden the way that business improvement districts are funded by giving BIDs the power to decide whether or not to include...

I will try to pick up some of those points. On the information to collect the money from owners, I believe that Julie Grail of the business improvement districts organisation—I cannot remember the name—said that it is possible to get the information to collect using local estate agents. There is...

I will try to pick up some of those points. On the information to collect the money from owners, I believe that Julie Grail of the business improvement districts organisation—I cannot remember the name—said that it is possible to get the information to collect using local estate agents. There is...

I am grateful to everyone who has spoken in the debate, particularly to the noble Baroness for moving the amendment. As the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, made clear, it raises complex issues. He took us through some of the most recent and longer-term history and put forward some challenges, which...

I am grateful to everyone who has spoken in the debate, particularly to the noble Baroness for moving the amendment. As the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, made clear, it raises complex issues. He took us through some of the most recent and longer-term history and put forward some challenges, which...

I may have more than enough time but in terms of the Long Title, it is not so much for the Government but for the House itself. If the noble Lord will leave that challenge with me, I will certainly think about the scope and the issues that it would...

I may have more than enough time but in terms of the Long Title, it is not so much for the Government but for the House itself. If the noble Lord will leave that challenge with me, I will certainly think about the scope and the issues that it would...

It will extend only to BIDs where a BRS is in place.

It will extend only to BIDs where a BRS is in place.

I shall speak also to Amendments 61A and 61C. Amendment 58 relates to the abandonment of a project and to collection and enforcement in that situation. I seek to take out the provision that the Secretary of State may prescribe the date when the BRS is treated as having come...

I shall speak also to Amendments 61A and 61C. Amendment 58 relates to the abandonment of a project and to collection and enforcement in that situation. I seek to take out the provision that the Secretary of State may prescribe the date when the BRS is treated as having come...

Of course, I tabled these amendments before the consultation document was published. This may not be a good, liberal attitude but, on an issue that would not be subject to consultation, the billing authority should not be stuck with costs that are essentially imposed upon it by the decisions of...

Of course, I tabled these amendments before the consultation document was published. This may not be a good, liberal attitude but, on an issue that would not be subject to consultation, the billing authority should not be stuck with costs that are essentially imposed upon it by the decisions of...

I hope that I can satisfy the noble Baroness on this point. Amendment 59 would enable billing authorities to be able to recover the costs that they incur in preparing for the collection and recovery of BRS. Amendment 60 would remove the power for the Secretary of State to set...

I hope that I can satisfy the noble Baroness on this point. Amendment 59 would enable billing authorities to be able to recover the costs that they incur in preparing for the collection and recovery of BRS. Amendment 60 would remove the power for the Secretary of State to set...

I wonder whether it would help the debate if I confirmed to the noble Lord that one of my amendments relates to the requirement to place an electronic copy on the website. I am seeking a summary of the document to go on the website as well as the full...

I wonder whether it would help the debate if I confirmed to the noble Lord that one of my amendments relates to the requirement to place an electronic copy on the website. I am seeking a summary of the document to go on the website as well as the full...

I will speak also to Amendments 20, 21 and 22. These amendments are about the prospectus that has to be issued as part of the consultative process. In part they come from the Federation of Small Businesses. The prospectus may be a complex document; I think it will have to...

I will speak also to Amendments 20, 21 and 22. These amendments are about the prospectus that has to be issued as part of the consultative process. In part they come from the Federation of Small Businesses. The prospectus may be a complex document; I think it will have to...

I rise to support the noble Baroness in her Amendment 48B but also to speak to amendments standing in my name and that of the noble Earl, Lord Cathcart. They are probing amendments which give us an opportunity to put some real concerns on record. The amendments deal with the...

I rise to support the noble Baroness in her Amendment 48B but also to speak to amendments standing in my name and that of the noble Earl, Lord Cathcart. They are probing amendments which give us an opportunity to put some real concerns on record. The amendments deal with the...

I am still a little puzzled. I understand that the reliefs are captured by the formulae in Clause 13, but then why is Clause 15(1) necessary? It says that a levying authority may apply such reliefs as it thinks appropriate. Does that mean that it could apply greater reliefs than...

I am still a little puzzled. I understand that the reliefs are captured by the formulae in Clause 13, but then why is Clause 15(1) necessary? It says that a levying authority may apply such reliefs as it thinks appropriate. Does that mean that it could apply greater reliefs than...

The Minister makes a good point, but she accepts that we were arguing that London and Crossrail should be exempt. We were not proposing that London should be—

The Minister makes a good point, but she accepts that we were arguing that London and Crossrail should be exempt. We were not proposing that London should be—

I have Amendments 52 and 55 in this group. Amendment 52 would amend Clause 16, which relates to the interaction with the BID levy. Clause 16(1) provides for setting rules for the interaction. My amendment would require consultation with those liable for it and the billing authority—which may be different...

I have Amendments 52 and 55 in this group. Amendment 52 would amend Clause 16, which relates to the interaction with the BID levy. Clause 16(1) provides for setting rules for the interaction. My amendment would require consultation with those liable for it and the billing authority—which may be different...

Perhaps I may deal with the offset first and Amendments 51, 53 and 54. Linked to that is Amendment 55A, which relates to Crossrail. Amendment 52 has a different focus. It would leave the decision whether to have an offset to the levying authority, but proposes, as the noble Baroness...

Perhaps I may deal with the offset first and Amendments 51, 53 and 54. Linked to that is Amendment 55A, which relates to Crossrail. Amendment 52 has a different focus. It would leave the decision whether to have an offset to the levying authority, but proposes, as the noble Baroness...

I am very glad that the noble Earl had the opportunity to correct Hansard. I cannot imagine what his postbag from Swaffham and other parts of rural Norfolk has been like.

I am very glad that the noble Earl had the opportunity to correct Hansard. I cannot imagine what his postbag from Swaffham and other parts of rural Norfolk has been like.

I am grateful to the Minister, but I understood the intervention of the noble Lord, Lord Tope, to be different to that. I thought that he was arguing that rather than adding greater uncertainty, the introduction of the amendment would reduce uncertainty. At the moment there is a double level...

I am grateful to the Minister, but I understood the intervention of the noble Lord, Lord Tope, to be different to that. I thought that he was arguing that rather than adding greater uncertainty, the introduction of the amendment would reduce uncertainty. At the moment there is a double level...

We are quite comfortable with the amendments. The only concern that we have about them is the extent to which they add to the bureaucratic and time delays that may be involved. Again, this links back to a debate that we had on an earlier amendment; that the greater use...

We are quite comfortable with the amendments. The only concern that we have about them is the extent to which they add to the bureaucratic and time delays that may be involved. Again, this links back to a debate that we had on an earlier amendment; that the greater use...