HC Deb 15 July 1981 vol 8 cc1169-71
13. Mr. Harry Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what replies he has received from local authorities in response to his request to cut their spending; what action he intends to take; and if he will make a statement.

11. Mr. McTaggart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has had from local authorities to his request that they should cut back their public expenditure still further.

Mr. Rifkind

My right bon. Friend has had detailed representations from seven authorities which received notice that he proposed to reduce rate support grant. In reply to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie), my right hon. Friend has indicated the conclusions reached on these representations. Since replies from authorities to my right hon. Friend's general request for revised budgets are not yet complete, it is premature to make a statement.

Mr. McTaggart

In view of the Secretary of State's answer and his continued unbending attitude towards democratically elected local authorities, will he at least commit himself in a statement to the House that he intends to fight for the people of Scotland and to get more money for local authorities, so that we may open up the many facilities that are being closed, particularly for the unemployed, in an effort to stop the civil unrest that we are seeing throughout the country spreading further?

Mr. Rifkind

Far from being unbending, my right hon. Friend constantly says that if local authorities are prepared to discuss their overspending with him that factor can be taken into account. Certain local authorities have not yet responded to the invitation, but we hope that they will.

Mr. Peter Fraser

Instead of manipulating youngsters in apprenticeships, as has been mentioned, if there are to be redundancies, will my hon. Friend tell Labour authorities that are employing political advisers for the first time that those people could certainly go, in the ratepayers' interests?

Mr. Rifkind

My hon. Friend is entitled to make that remark. It is extraordinary that a local authority, such as Dundee, which maintains that it is having an impossible time because of Government cuts, is still able to employ someone full-time purely as a political adviser to the: Labour group.

Mr. Harry Ewing

Is the Minister aware that we cannot avoid noticing the pleasure that particularly the Secretary of State derives from causing suffering and hardship to countless numbers of people? In view of the: constant reference to conditions that prevailed in 1977, will the Minister reconsider his approach to the Stirling, problem against the background of the decision announced last week to slaughter Stirling university and the impact that that will have on employment prospects in Stirling?

Mr. Rifkind

I am competent only to comment on local government spending in Stirling at the moment. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the greatest damage done to the local economy was the 150 per cent. rate increase imposed by the district council.

Mr. Lang

May I assure my hon. Friend that the general thrust of the Government's policy to make spendthrift authorities face the consequences of their profligacy is warmly welcomed? Will he reassure the House that he will persist with the policy and, so far as possible, protect efficient and prudent authorities from the extravagances of others?

Mr. Rifkind

First, I apologise to the hon. Member for Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth (Mr. Ewing). I did Stirling district council a disservice by saying that its rate increase was 150 per cent. In fact, it was merely 100 per cent. That should be made clear.

I should tell my hon. Friend the Member for Galloway (Mr. Lang) that the reasons for the 1981 Act and the selective measures that my right hon. Friend is pursuing are to keep to an absolute minimum the problems that will be faced by Labour, Conservative and Independent-controlled authorities that have co-operated in the national interest and reduced their expenditure.

Mr. Michael Martin

If the Minister is so worried about public spending, will he reconsider the Scottish Office decision to ask Strathclyde to become an agent to build the Step's bypass, which will cost several million pounds and require the local authority to take land from Ellenacre Ltd., which got it for a song in the first place? Is he aware that if the bypass goes through, good communities will be destroyed? Is that not an area where savings can be made?

Mr. Rifkind

Before any road can be built, all the planning procedures must be completed, including a full public inquiry, where that is appropriate. I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman has discussed this matter with the regional council. We would, of course, wish to take into account the views of Strathclyde region on the question of roads affecting its locality.