CONDUCT OF THE HON MEMBER FOR WEST LANCASHIRE (No.2)

That this House congratulates the honourable Member for West Lancashire on recognising the problem of increased rents for small businesses in Skelmersdale and the potential damage to the town, obtaining the agreement of the Commission for New Town and Industrialists to arbitration by a representative of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to set bench mark levels for future rents, lobbying Ministers, the Chairman of the Commission for New Towns and instituting with the Chamber of Commerce to provide evidence to fight the case; notes the further meeting between the honourable Member and the Chairman of the Commission for New Towns on Wednesday 20th November to negotiate a contribution to the arbitration from the Commission for New Towns and the tenants; and recognises that none of the Opposition members bothered to discuss the problem with the honourable Member for West Lancashire or offered their help and have done considerable damage to employment opportunities in Skelmersdale as a consequence.