Westminster sources said there was a chance the Government will not seek a further debate, so as not to give the Conservative leader, David Cameron, a chance to embarrass the Labour administration in public over the deeply unpopular proposals.

Mr Cameron has made a point of highlighting the backdating issue on recent visits to Merseyside. In April, he told the Daily Post he would “see that my shadow ministers put the maximum pressure on to sort this issue out”.

He added: “We need government action on this issue.

“We are in the middle of a recession, and there are around 600 businesses of this type around the country.

“The tax hike they are being landed with will cost jobs and damage trade and the economy.”

Andrew Finfer, the solicitor who drafted the amendment to the Bill on behalf of the Mersey and Humber coalition, said: “Businesses throughout the UK will welcome the fact they will not be penalised by retrospective taxation without any fault on behalf of the business.

“The damage that has been, and is being, caused to port businesses as a result of the failings of the Valuation Office Agency will not now be inflicted on other businesses through retrospective imposition of business rate supplements.

“The pain felt by businesses at Humber Docks, Mersey Dock and other ports across the country, as a result of the VOA’s actions, is something other businesses will now be spared.”

Riverside MP Louise Ellman said she hoped the Government would respond favourably to the Lords’ amendment.

She added: “The Lords have voted in favour of what the group wants, but the Government is still refusing to do any more.

“I am still calling on the Government to change its position. This situation is the fault of the government agency, not the businesses, and, during these very difficult economic times, they do not need this added burden.”

The Bill will go for a third reading on June 18.

OPINION: PAGE 8