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Business Rates Reform Bill - Clause 13 - Requirements for ratepayers etc to provide information
25 October 2023
Lead MP
Lee Rowley
Debate Type
Bill Debate
Tags
EconomyTaxationBusiness & Trade
Other Contributors: 3
At a Glance
Lee Rowley raised concerns about business rates reform bill - clause 13 - requirements for ratepayers etc to provide information in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Government invite the House to agree to three minor amendments that were unanimously supported in the other place. Lords amendment 1 caps penalties for failing to comply with new duties at £1,800, equivalent to 30 days of daily fines. Lords amendment 2 requires tribunals to remit criminal penalties unless satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that a false statement was knowingly or recklessly made. Lords amendment 3 is a drafting correction improving the clarity of the statute book.
James Murray
Lab Co-op
Ealing North
Clause 13 introduces new duties on ratepayers to provide information for digitisation and shorter revaluations, with penalties for non-compliance. Lords amendment 1 caps daily fines at £60 and total penalty at £1,800. We realise this limit may help protect ratepayers from larger charges while supporting frequent revaluations. Lords amendment 2 increases the burden of proof required for criminal penalties to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt before imposing them. This is sensible and we support it.
The amendments are welcomed but should have been more substantial, reducing the burden of proof for ratepayers and introducing reciprocal penalties on VOA. The Bill must be the start of a broader reform process to reduce the UBR multiplier to an affordable level, simplify relief mechanisms, move towards annual valuations, and ensure fair assessment of business rates.
Lee Rowley
Lab
Rotherham
Expressed gratitude to the shadow Minister for his constructive comments and willingness to support the amendments, as well as thanked his colleague for reviewing the Bill and offering insightful comments. He acknowledged that moving from a five-year revaluation frequency to three years is a significant change.
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