To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what total amount in salary, fees and expenses was paid by his Department to Sir Michael Lyons for his work on the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government;

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what total amount in salary, fees and expenses was paid by his Department to Sir Michael Lyons for his work on the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government;

(2) how much his Department paid Sir Michael Lyons in (a) salary, (b) fees and (c) related expenses for his work on the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government in 2007.

Mr Streeter:

(2) how much his Department paid Sir Michael Lyons in (a) salary, (b) fees and (c) related expenses for his work on the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government in 2007.

Mr Streeter:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much Sir Michael Lyons was paid in total in salary, fees and related expenses for the Lyons Review in 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much Sir Michael Lyons was paid in total in salary, fees and related expenses for the Lyons Review in 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to page 79 of the final report of the Lyons Inquiry into local government, if he will place in the Library a copy of the written submission to that Inquiry made by the National Audit Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to page 79 of the final report of the Lyons Inquiry into local government, if he will place in the Library a copy of the written submission to that Inquiry made by the National Audit Office.

The Bill gives legislative effect to the scheme outlined in Business rate supplements: a white paper (Cm 7230). This allows upper-tier local authorities, and the Greater London Authority, to levy a supplement on the business rate in order to fund local economic development projects. Businesses must be consulted and, in certain circumstances, balloted before a rate supplement can be introduced.

The Bill gives legislative effect to the scheme outlined in Business rate supplements: a white paper (Cm 7230). This allows upper-tier local authorities, and the Greater London Authority, to levy a supplement on the business rate in order to fund local economic development projects. Businesses must be consulted and, in...

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which recommendations of the Lyons Inquiry into local government finance the Government (a) has implemented and (b) plans to implement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which recommendations of the Lyons Inquiry into local government finance the Government (a) has implemented and (b) plans to implement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the budget for the Lyons Inquiry was.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the budget for the Lyons Inquiry was.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department will produce a formal response to the Lyons Inquiry on local government.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department will produce a formal response to the Lyons Inquiry on local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department plans to produce a formal response to the Lyons Inquiry on local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department plans to produce a formal response to the Lyons Inquiry on local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether representatives of her Department made any written submission or representation to the Lyons Inquiry on local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether representatives of her Department made any written submission or representation to the Lyons Inquiry on local government.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether representatives of his Department made any written submission or representation to the Lyons Inquiry on local government;

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether representatives of his Department made any written submission or representation to the Lyons Inquiry on local government;

(2) whether (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) the Valuation Office Agency made any written submission or representation to the Lyons Inquiry on local government.

(2) whether (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) the Valuation Office Agency made any written submission or representation to the Lyons Inquiry on local government.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to respond formally to the Lyons inquiry into local government.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to respond formally to the Lyons inquiry into local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department is planning to produce a formal response to the Lyons inquiry; and what the timetable is for considering the report's recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department is planning to produce a formal response to the Lyons inquiry; and what the timetable is for considering the report's recommendations.

Has my hon. Friend noticed the importance of proposed new subsection (1D)(b)(iv) in respect of the decision that most people have now made that electricity must be generated on a much more local basis? The measure will become much more important than it would previously have been as we begin...

Has my hon. Friend noticed the importance of proposed new subsection (1D)(b)(iv) in respect of the decision that most people have now made that electricity must be generated on a much more local basis? The measure will become much more important than it would previously have been as we begin...

My right hon. Friend makes a good point, and shows his experience as a Member of this House. Nevertheless, it is important to have paragraph (d) in the Bill. Paragraph (e) is equally important. We are blessed with a lot of monuments and archaeological areas. Many of us enjoy watching...

My right hon. Friend makes a good point, and shows his experience as a Member of this House. Nevertheless, it is important to have paragraph (d) in the Bill. Paragraph (e) is equally important. We are blessed with a lot of monuments and archaeological areas. Many of us enjoy watching...

The provision concerns not just those who become insolvent but their creditors. After the event, the bills that come in will reduce the amount of money available for distribution to those who are already hard hit.

The provision concerns not just those who become insolvent but their creditors. After the event, the bills that come in will reduce the amount of money available for distribution to those who are already hard hit.

I have tried, in my inadequate way, to explain the importance of that aspect. My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the breadth of the impact of insolvency on members of the community, including creditors.

I have tried, in my inadequate way, to explain the importance of that aspect. My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the breadth of the impact of insolvency on members of the community, including creditors.

The argument can be taken a stage further. It is already unacceptable that the state insists on being paid first, before those who may be in a much worse position. This is another example of circumstances in which the state’s grabbing comes before the needs of the individual.

The argument can be taken a stage further. It is already unacceptable that the state insists on being paid first, before those who may be in a much worse position. This is another example of circumstances in which the state’s grabbing comes before the needs of the individual.