§ 7. Mr. GowTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received seeking the introduction of the community charge in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. StanleyThe representations that my right hon. Friend has received from members of the public currently amount to one letter.
§ Mr. GowWhy are the inestimable benefits of the community charge to be conferred upon the people of 474 Tonbridge and Mailing, and even Eastbourne, but withheld from the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone?
§ Mr. StanleyI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his enthusiastic support for the community charge, which is certainly shared in Tonbridge and Mailing and Eastbourne. However, my hon. Friend is well aware that the structure of local government and the financial arrangements for local government in the Province are very different from the rest of Great Britain. My hon. Friend will be aware from my original answer regarding the community charge that we believe that it is right to monitor the progress in the Province.