HC Deb 02 November 1988 vol 139 cc1006-7
3. Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in response to the publication of the White Paper on the conduct of local authority business.

The Minister for Local Government (Mr. John Selwyn Gummer)

My right hon. Friend has received 65 letters from Members of Parliament, local authorities, councillors and interested organisations, commenting on the White Paper.

Mr. Banks

Is the Minister aware that the White Paper is nothing more than a long essay on Government hypocrisy? How dare the Prime Minister go to Poland and start lecturing the Poles about freedom when she is dismantling local democracy? For how much longer are these attacks on local authorities going to continue? Is the Minister aware that no Government this century have sought to interfere in the affairs of local authorities as much as this Government. have done? When will he start defending, instead of destroying local democracy?

Mr. Gummer

The greatest damage to local authorities and local democracy has been caused by Labour councils run not for the benefit of ratepayers or for those who are in need but for the benefit of the furtherance of extreme Left-wing Marxist ideas. Any hon. Member who can make that kind of comment after the revelations about Brent today should be ashamed of himself.

Mr. McLoughlin

Will my right hon. Friend, when looking at the responses that he has received on the conduct of local government business, bear in mind what happened on Cannock Chase district council when I was a member of it? The then chairman of the council lost his seat in the May election, but remained as chairman until the annual meeting. In between there was another meeting of the council and he used his casting vote, despite not being a member of the council. Will my right hon. Friend consider whether that has any relevance to the conduct of local authority business?

Mr. Gummer

The conduct of local authorities is best seen when people obey the rules and carry them out and do not try to make party political propaganda out of following the rules.

Dr. Cunningham

Before we have too many sanctimonious lectures about local government from the Tories, will the Minister comment on the conduct of the Conservative-controlled Westminster city council, which sold cemeteries for 15p, which are now being advertised for sale at £5.5 million, and which is not charging for refuse collection from commercial organisations, which the district auditor has quite clearly said is unlawful? If the Minister has something to say about standards of conduct, why does he not look a little closer to home?

Mr. Gummer

I am willing to condemn unlawful action from wherever it comes. I only hope that the hon. Gentleman will condemn his hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook), who is a Labour Front-Bench spokesman on the Health Service, for refusing to pay taxes, which are lawfully levied, and encouraging other persons to do the same.