extra business rate from anyone in the city's business community. But

Nick Sturge cannot get away with saying that, even without such a rate

being imposed, the city council would automatically benefit 'because

there would be more businesses thriving and so business rates would

increase'. As Nick well knows, no matter how well business in the city

is doing, the money we collect each year in business rates all goes to

the government. However much or little it is, we keep none of it.

Ministers reallocate the nation's business rates back to local

authorities on a per capita basis. However, the extra business rate that

the council may consider imposing towards World Cup costs is a different

matter. The proceeds of such a tax would in this case accrue directly to

the council, so long as it was all spent on the project it was raised

for.

Simon Cook, Deputy Leader, Bristol City Council