Ways and Means

My hon. Friend reminds me that Property Week has looked into the issue. The example of Palmer Capital Partners—I take it that that is Palmer, not Palma as in the capital of Majorca—was given. I am not making an accusation, but for the figure to be valid the company had to assume that the property would be vacant. I do not suggest that that was that company’s deliberate policy, but there are many examples of companies who build offices, turn the lights on brightly to advertise them, stick a For Rent notice outside, hire a security guard and disappear to the Mediterranean. In my view, that is undesirable. The hon. Member for Peterborough made the point about the increase in homelessness—which is not true—and sounded like my right hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West and Royton (Mr. Meacher). The hon. Gentleman harked back to the days of Centrepoint, but the Centrepoint charity for the homeless came into existence because the Centrepoint tower was wilfully kept empty. We are not into that policy and we are trying to change the situation. We want to bring empty property into active use for business and commercial activities. It is interesting that the hon. Gentleman and my right hon. Friend should concur on the issue. I have to disappoint the hon. Gentleman and tell him that he is not eligible to sign the nomination form for my right hon. Friend on Monday—