HC Deb 20 June 1984 vol 62 cc447-8

8AA.—(1) For the purpose of ascertaining the gross annual value of any lands and heritages no account shall be taken of any mooring to which this section applies.

(2) This section applies to any mooring—

  1. (a) used or intended to be used by a boat or ship; and
  2. (b) equipped only with a buoy attached to an anchor, weight or other device—
    1. (i) which rests on or in the bed of the sea or any river or other waters when in use; and
    2. (ii) which is designed to be raised from that bed from time to time."."

Read a Second time.

Amendment made to the proposed Lords amendment, in line 4, leave out 'gross' and insert 'net'. — [Mr. Ancram.]

Question proposed, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment, as amended.

Mr. Donald Dewar (Glasgow, Garscadden)

We are just about to come to the end of the Rating and Valuation (Amendmėnt) (Scotland) Bill, and it is appropriate to say a word or two about this group of amendments.

The hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Hirst) was praised. I hope that he will not resent it if I say that that was a little extravagent, because the matter came from the Confederation of British Industry——

Mr. Michael Hirst (Strathkelvin and Bearsden)

Why did the hon. Gentleman not support it?

Mr. Dewar

The hon. Gentleman is being a little aggressive. I am sure he will remember that he tabled a new clause, which, thanks to the Bill being guillotined, was not discussed in Committee. Therefore, the hon. Gentleman does not know whether we would have supported him then. However, he knows now.

I welcome the amendments, but I regret that we have had an extremely difficult and controversial Bill on our hands, and despite all the efforts that were made in the other place, none of the amendments that we are discussing overcomes our objections.

This has been a miserable and squalid affair, but at least we are ending it with some agreed, though minor, improvements to the rating provisions. For that, at least, I am grateful. No doubt for those who are worried about shopping malls or moorings, there is some minor consolation in the improvements, but I repeat that the Bill as a whole has been damaging and destructive and will be bitterly regretted by those who, with some impartiality, look at what is in the best interests of local government and democracy in Scotland and the workability of our political and democratic system.

Question put and agreed to. [Special Entry.]

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