HC Deb 29 June 1988 vol 136 cc359-60
13. Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to raise money for health boards by means of a lottery.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

No, Sir.

Mrs. Fyfe

In the light of that definite reply, will the Minister explain why he contemplates a lottery for the funding of local authorities?

Mr. Forsyth

I am sorry, but I did not hear the question.

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The reason why the Minister did not——

Mr. Speaker

Order. Mrs. Fyfe.

Mrs. Fyfe

Conservative Members seem to think that they are wits, but they are only half right. I shall repeat my question. If the Minister thinks it is so easy to answer no in the case of health boards, will he explain why he can contemplate such things to provide funding for local authorities, to reward people who pay the poll tax properly?

Mr. Forsyth

I apologise to the hon. Lady.

The national lottery in connection with the collection of the community charge is what I suppose her question relates to. These provisions were introduced in the Local Government Finance Bill at the request of local authorities so that they might have the opportunity to offer incentives to people who agree to pay their community charge in a way that minimises local authorities' collection costs. [Interruption.] I can well imagine why Opposition Members are muttering that that is amazing. It did not come across in that way in the press, but the request came from local authorities.

Mr. Salmond

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I hope that this is a genuine point of order and not merely the hon. Gentleman disagreeing with something.

Mr. Salmond

It is a genuine point of order, Mr. Speaker. When the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) was asking her question I heard Conservative Members making racist remarks across the Chamber. I distinctly heard them asking her to put her question in English, which was clearly a racist remark.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Points of order of this sort take up time. Perhaps the hon. Lady was not heard easily from the Government Front Bench when she put her question, but she put it very well.

Mrs. Fyfe

rose——

Mr. Speaker

Order. Other hon. Members want to take part in Question Time, too.