Clause 5 - Temporary borrowing
Local Government Bill
10:00 am
Mr Nick Raynsford (Minister of State (Local and Regional Government), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)
Like many other Labour authorities, my authority has an excellent collection rate, and we will not take any lessons from the Conservatives on that. I am sorry that I have got under the hon. Gentleman's skin this morning. I was making the point that in practice there has been demonstrable improvement in the collection rates, and even Hackney, which I openly said had a lamentable record, is improving. I do not deny that it has a long way to go, but it is moving in the right direction and should be welcomed.