UK Parliament / Open data

Ways and Means

Proceeding contribution from Ed Balls (Labour) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 10 May 2007. It occurred during Debate on bills on Rating (Empty Properties) Bill.

I want to understand the hon. Gentleman’s argument. I am worried that the point he is making is not market-based and is more dirigiste. When he uses the term overcapacity, he means properties that are unused. Are they unused because there is no demand or because the rent is too high? Are we not looking for a way to get the price down so that they can be put back into use and there can be more activity?