§ Mr. John Hughes accordingly presented a Bill to repeal the Local Government Finance Act 1988; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time upon Friday 4 May and to be printed. [Bill 122.]
§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. In view of the unanimous support for the repeal of the poll tax which has been shown in the House today, I suggest that we move on to all the succeeding stages of this Bill so that we can carry it and satisfy the people out there, the electorate who want to get rid of it, and I so move.
§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Paul Dean)Order. The hon. Gentleman knows that that is not in order. A day has already been named.
§ Mr. Harry Barnes (Derbyshire, North-East)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Is it in order that on the Bill that we have just had, to which there is the strongest possible opposition among some Government Members, no one moved against it or spoke against it, although the duty Whip was heard to say that he had never heard such nonsense in his life? Would he not have liked to get up and argue why he regarded the measure as nonsense, so that we could have a decision here and now about where Parliament stands?
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerAll that I need say is that what has occurred has been quite in order.
§ Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I was here and heard my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Hughes) move his Bill, and it was supported by the House. Have you had any suggestion that hon. Members on the Government Benches were prevented from speaking against the Bill because of the embarrassment to the Government if the Bill were passed today?
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerWe cannot debate the matter now.
§ Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman (Lancaster)Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Conservative Members are anxious to get on to the important business before us. We do not want to fool around with something that will never become law anyway.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerI am trying to do just that. I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her help.