New Clause 1 - Annual report
Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill
11:30 am
David Howarth (Shadow Minister, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Cambridge, Liberal Democrat)
The new clause seeks to bring to the debate a degree of transparency. Since that was the purpose of amendment No. 2, I am glad to support the motion. It seems puzzling, however, that the official Opposition oppose our amendment on the grounds that it would cost officer time, and then immediately propose a new clause that appears to cost exactly the same officer time. The hon. Member for Poole should be careful what he wishes for.
There was a similar incident on Second Reading when Conservative Members voted en masse against the Bill, even though they claim to be against revaluation. Their tactics continue to puzzle me.