Clause 3
Business Rate Supplements Bill
12:15 pm
Nick Raynsford (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)
I shall not detain the Committee long, but I cannot fail to observe the extraordinary contortions and intellectual confusion displayed by the Opposition. We have just heard them arguing that the Bill should be limited to London and the Crossrail scheme; however, the amendment, which was obviously tabled at the same time as the others, is based on a widening of the remit to include provision for training, employment and other desirable objectives, which the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst knows perfectly well could not be contemplated for at least 25 years because the proceeds of the business rate supplement have been predicated in London for the support of Crossrail throughout that period.