David Byers
We've made some changes
to The Sunday Times

Saving Gateway Bill A savings scheme specifically aimed at those with low incomes. The Government would make a contribution for every pound saved.
Banking Reform Bill The Government will introduce measures to allow the Bank of England, the Treasury and Financial Services Authority to provide early intervention to prevent another Northern Rock crisis.
Education and Skills Bill Local authorities will be given new powers to intervene in underperforming schools, establish an independent regulator of qualifications and tests, and strengthen apprenticeships.
NHS Reform Bill Will establish a NHS constitution designed to set out patients’ entitlements, guaranteeing high standards, quality and safety.
Citizenship, Immigration and Borders Bill Will require new immigrants to learn English while restricting full access to benefits and social housing to full British citizens.
Welfare Reform Bill Requires the unemployed to undergo a skills assessment, and all incapacity benefits claimants to go through a medical assessment in a bid to get more people back into work.
Policing and Crime Reduction Bill Will give local people a greater say over policing priorities through directly elected representatives, while strengthening powers to seize criminal assets.
Agency Workers' Bill The Government will seek to legislate to protect the rights of agency workers, subject to agreement with the European Union.
Heritage Protection Bill Reforms the system for the management of historic sites.
Marine and Coastal Access Bill Open up coastline to more leisure activities, and streamline the management of coastline.
Business Rates Supplement Bill Will give local areas new powers to levy a local supplement on the business rate and to retain the proceeds for investment in that area.
Equality Bill Aims to streamline sex, race and religious discrimination laws.
Community Empowerment Bill Will give people greater powers to influence local council agendas and spending decisions.
Transport Security Bill Creates a new offence of act of terrorism at sea. Will include using a ship to transport weapons of mass destruction. The Royal Navy will be given tougher powers to combat piracy.
Law reform, victims and witnesses Bill Victims of of crime will be given better protection, and the information commissioner will be given tougher powers to police breaches of privacy law.
Communications data Bill New powers will be introduced to monitor people's use of the internet. More data can be seized to combat terrorism and crime.
Coroners and death certification Bill A national coroners' service will be created with investigative powers.
Constitutional Review Bill MPs will be given the final say on treaties, the role of the attorney general will be partially removed, and restrictions will be placed on protests outside parliament.
Geneva conventions and UN personnel Bill People working on humanitarian, political and economic assistance will be given extra protection in the eyes of the law.
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Overseas contacts and local business information

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Stephen - yes - existing business rates get collected by the Council, sent off to Central Government, then reallocated around the country. Some local authorities get less back than they collected, and some get more. Eg. Westminster gets about 9p back from every £1 of business rates collected....
Georgina, London, UK
Looks to me like a rather authoritarian programme stripping more rights and freedoms from people. On the supplementary business rate does =it mean that the current business rate isn't spent local but siphoned off by government in which case it isn't a rate, but another national tax.
Stephen, St. Ives, England