I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Valuation Act 2001 to provide certainty to commercial rate payers by creating a limit on the maximum variation of commercial rates and to provide for the staging of the execution of the variation of those rates over a specified period of time.
The Government had indicated some months ago that it would bring forward heads of a Bill on a new methodology to overhaul the archaic system that was in place, that remains in place and that has led to huge levels of increase in the rate payable by many businesses, many retailers and many industries in recent months, so much so that many have seen rises to the tune of up to 300% to 400%. It was on foot of representations from myself and many others that we had hoped the Government would be true to its word that it would bring forward heads of a Bill that would seek to address the imbalance, unfairness, regional disparity and indeed the methodology that in turn leads to failures of the equalisation system with regard to local government funding, and the pressure that remains on individual local authorities to adhere to these rises in order to guarantee their future with regard to the income that they would have. It is clear that, by virtue of the level of increase, many will not be in a position to make those payments that are demanded of them.
The Bill today specifically deals with two simple issues that can help to address that and initiate a debate and process that might see this issue resolved in a more holistic fashion. Specifically, it deals with the issue of the level or rate of increase being capped rather than allowing a situation which has seen the ridiculous increases of up to 300% or 400%, when there have not been valuations in up to 30 years. The archaic nature in which that methodology translates itself into reality is something that has to be addressed. We also specifically seek a mechanism in this Bill to allow and cater for those who have an inability to pay immediately to have flexibility about how that bill might be paid over a period of time. I hope that this can be accepted.
I hope that the Government accepts this Bill and that it will set aside time for a debate, for the legislation to come from the Government and to match the rhetoric that it has given in response to this issue being raised by many in this House over recent months. I expect the Government to live up to the expectation of those people who have done their best to survive the crash that we saw in recent years, who are hit with a ridiculous level of expectation on the part of those who set these rates, and are unable to pay them.
The Minister committed to bring forward heads of a Bill. This Bill initiates that process, and I hope and expect that the Government Chief Whip would meet with our own and others to put time aside and allow the Minister to bring forward that legislation, and allow us all to arrive at a conclusion that would be suitable and meet the needs of everybody concerned, but most importantly, would address the archaic and ridiculous nature by which these rates are set at present. I hope and expect that the Government would reciprocate, come forward and meet our demands in that regard.
