Peer visits Mersey Docks over rates crisis

A Tory peer who has been campaigning on behalf of dock businesses hit by crippling rates will visit Mersey Docks today.

Lord Bates, shadow communities and local government minister, has rallied support in the House of Lords for the removal of backdated rates imposed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

The row began over the retrospective collection of National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR), which resulted in port businesses being presented with unexpected bills, including payments for this year and back payments to 2005. Many firms say the demands will put them out of business.

In three separate House of Lords’ votes Lord Bates has campaigned against the rates. The most recent Motion of Regret, on October 14, called for a review of the work of the VOA and a moratorium on payment of backdated rates until the review has been carried out.

Speaking ahead of his Liverpool visit Lords Bates said: “Jobs and businesses are under threat as a result of the way this Government has retrospectively applied huge taxes.

“We have been trying to force the Government to think again and as part of our work I have had the opportunity to visit many of our ports and hear at first hand the experience of people whose jobs are being threatened and destroyed by this self-inflicted attack on an essential part of the British economy by this Government.”

The House of Lords voted in favour of removing the requirement to pay backdated rates on June 9 but this was later over-ruled by the Government.