§ Mr. Tony Marlow (Northampton, North)I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the breakdown of local government in parts of the capital".You will have read in yesterday's Sunday Telegraph, Mr. Speaker, that local government is breaking down in Brent, Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. In these areas, which above all have one thing in common—they are all Socialist-controlled—costs of providing services are more than twice as great as in similar areas elsewhere, while services are worse, lamentably worse.The appalling standards of ILEA, where only half those leaving school have O-level equivalent, combine with the Socialist ethos in these boroughs in such a way that, in the richest city in the kingdom, overflowing with work opportunities, one third of men aged between 20 and 24 contrive to claim to be unemployed. That is rose petal Socialism in action. The wrapping may have changed, but the rotten can of writhing snakes is still inside.
The matter is urgent, because of creative accounting. Vast debts are daily being built up which, if met by the local authorities, will lead to further chaos and anarchy. If met elsewhere, there will be a totally unjustified burden on the general taxpayer in order to right the problem. Already, a massive £700 million is owed through deferred purchase schemes. We read today that Haringey may be considering pawning the mayoral regalia along with the office furniture.
It is one thing for the Leader of the Opposition to indulge his fifth form macho fantasies in Ealing; it is another for the long-suffering citizens of London to be socially mugged by his party—the creative force behind urban deprivation. The Labour party does not care. There is urgent need for action from a Government who do. We should debate that now.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member has asked leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely,
the breakdown of local government in parts of the capital".I have listened with care to the hon. Member. I regret that I do not consider the matter that he has raised to be appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 20, and I cannot, therefore, submit his application to the House.