§ 10. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from local authorities in Wales regarding Government cuts in public expenditure.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsI have received a large number of representations from local authorities in Wales regarding public expenditure cuts since I have been in office.
§ Mr. EvansDoes the Minister realise that the increase in local authority rates and the cutback in a number of services are due to the policies which have been pursued by the Government and that on Thursday last week the massive Labour gains and the massive Tory losses were an indication that the people do not support the Government's policies on local government?
§ Mr. EdwardsI am sure that the hon. Member will want to get what consolation he can at this time, with the dereliction of his own party. He is welcome to it.
§ Sir Raymond GowerAs Opposition Members have been making use all afternoon of the barometer of last week's elections, is it not a fact that when the Labour Government were in office the local government losses suffered by the Labour Party were much larger?
§ Mr. EdwardsIt is true that not only the local government losses but the swings in opinion polls reached record proportions when the Labour Party was in office. It is much more significant that there has not been one constructive proposal of any sort from the Opposition Benches this afternoon.
§ Mr. ColemanOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Are you aware that a number of Welsh Members have been prevented from asking supplementary questions this 476 afternoon because of the length of questioning and because of the number of times certain individuals have been called?
§ Mr. SpeakerI understand the hon. Gentleman. However, as there is only one question to the Church Commissioner, with a bit of luck, we shall return to Welsh questions after that.