§ Q8. Mr. Wiggasked the Prime Minister whether he will inquire into the voting position of members of the Stourbridge Council who, because they are council house tenants, are prevented from voting on housing matters, with a view to consideration of the powers contained in Section 76(8) of the Local Government Act, 1933.
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government has exercised these powers in the normal way in relation to the members concerned. He has given them dispensation to vote at meetings of committees where the conduct of business would otherwise have been 1396 impeded, but not at meetings of the council where this situation has not arisen.
§ Mr. WiggWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the fact that council house tenants cannot take a full and active part in local government is exercising an inhibiting influence on councillors of all political denominations? Is it not time that the doctrine on which this practice is based was looked at again and brought up to date in the light of modern conditions?
§ The Prime MinisterI have no evidence—I have consulted my right hon. Friend, of course—that this practice is irksome to local authorities. My right hon. Friend exercises the dispensation fairly and very frequently for a member of a local council to speak. He is only prevented from voting when the matter directly affects his own pocket.
§ Mr. WiggWould the right hon. Gentleman consult the Home Secretary and ask him whether he recollects that a deputation came from Dudley, consisting of Conservative and Labour councillors, asking that the practice should be looked at again?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, I dare say, but that does not argue that there is general discontent all over the country, important though Dudley is.