HC Deb 26 January 1982 vol 16 c747
Mr. Clinton Davis (Hackney, Central)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the failure or refusal of the Secretary of State for the Environment to repay to the London borough of Hackney, among others, rate support grant that he has unlawfully withheld. On 15 January 1981 the House resolved affirmatively the new levels of rate support grant payable for the year 1980–81. Parliament granted no extension of time for making that payment. On 21 October 1981, the Divisional Court decided that the Secretary of State's decision to withhold part of the rate support grant payable to Hackney and five other London boroughs was unlawful. Hackney and the other boroughs have been pressing continuously for the Secretary of State to fulfil his obligations pursuant to the court's judgment, but so far to no avail. The Secretary of State said, however, that he would reach a decision by the week commencing 11 January this year. That date has passed and still there has been no commitment from the Secretary of State, no communication from him and no explanation of the delay.

The conduct of the Secretary of State is, to say the least, thoroughly unworthy of a Minister of the Crown. He is defying a court order. He has no parliamentary authority for his capricious and vindictive conduct against a borough that is having to struggle against appalling deprivation, and he is in breach of his undertaking.

This matter falls within the ambit of Standing Order No. 9 in that it is clearly urgent, for the reasons that I have given. The amount of rate support grant withheld without considering interest is the equivalent of a 3p rate, which must be a substantial amount, and is of great immediacy in determining the rate for 1982–83. The matter is obviously specific and of great public importance not only to the people of Hackney and the other boroughs involved, but with regard to the Minister's responsibilities towards the House of Commons.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Davis) gave me notice before 12 noon today that he would seek to make an application under Standing Order No. 9 this afternoon. The hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the failure or refusal of the Secretary of State for the Environment to repay to the London borough of Hackney, among others, rate support grant that he has unlawfully withheld. As the House knows, under Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take account of the several factors set out in the Order, but to give no reason for my decision. I listened carefully to the hon. Gentleman, but I must rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.