§ Mr. Joe Barnettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when 7W he expects to conclude his consideration of longer-term policy for business rents; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will issue a Green Paper on his policy for business rents.
§ Mr. ChannonMy right hon. and learned Friend expects to conclude consideration of longer-term policy for business rents in the course of stage 2. I cannot give a definite date at this point and it is therefore too early to say what would be the most appropriate way to make those conclusions public.
§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people from his Department are engaged on consideration of longer-term policy for business rents.
§ Mr. ChannonOwing to the wide range of this topic a considerable number of people are involved within the Department, and it would be misleading to quote any single figure.
§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the retail consortium was unanimous in the representations he has received from it on the subject of business rents.
§ Mr. ChannonMy right hon. and learned Friend has yet to hear from it.