THE HOUSE OF LORDS HAVE THROWN OUT AN AMENDMENT to the Business Rates Bill that could have given a financial lifeline to hundreds of businesses in ports facing huge rates bills.

Businesses had hoped that clauses in the bill removed by the House of Commons would be reinstated when the bill returned to the House of Lords on Monday. Shona McIsaac, Ian Cawsey and Austin Mitchell were among the MPs who backed port businesses in the House of Commons. 

'Businesses facing paying double rates will feel hugely let down by this news,' said Shona. 'We tried, but I don't really think that ministers understood our case. Ministers simple wouldn't accept that businesses have already paid via the fee they paid to port operators.

'We are now looking to see if there is other legislation that could provide us with another opportunity to amend the law. In a way, the Business Rates Supplements Bill may not have been the best bill to use as it was about giving councils the freedom to charge extra business rates. We have been promised meetings with Cabinet Ministers to discuss the issue further. That had better be sooner rather than later,' said Shona.

30 June 2009