Local Government Finance (Hansard, 21 February 1990)

§ 3. Mr. Nellist
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received opposing the introduction of the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Christopher Chope)
We continue to receive a good many representations on the community charge, covering a wide range of views.

§ Mr. Nellist
Is the Minister aware that the difference between the rates on our house in Coventry, at £619, and the poll tax for two people in Coventry, is £189, and that that is my family's fortnight's summer holiday? If the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister think that they are taking my bairns' two weeks' holiday off them to pay for his bloody poll tax, he does not understand the determination of 1 million people in Scotland who have not paid and of 10 million in England and Wales who will be joining them in five weeks' time.

§ Mr. Chope
Despite the hon. Gentleman's customary rant on the issue of the community charge, the House should congratulate him because his second home is in the London borough of Wandsworth. Contrary to his earlier protestations, he has registered there for the standard community charge thereby ensuring that his community charge will be about the lowest in the country.

Hon. Members
Oh.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order.

§ Mr. Nellist
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I want to hear the rest of the Minister's answer, but, on a point of order, you should reflect on how the Minister knows where I live and where I have registered.

§ Mr. Chope
I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman is so coy about his second home and where it is located. It would be particularly mean-minded of him to withhold payment of the community charge and encourage others to do so. Coventry has the third highest revenue support grant per adult in the west midlands, which is considerably above the national average.

§ Mr. Winnick
On a point of order,Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Madden
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Gould
Further to the point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Minister's reply calls for an immediate explanation, because the House needs to know how the Minister knows who has registered on the poll tax register when that information is required to be kept confidential by the registrar.

Several Hon. Members
rose——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. That is not a point of order for me. It is a matter about the contents of an answer.

§ Mr. Madden
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Chope
Treating that as a question, it was open to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) to apply to have his name withheld. He did not do so and I can confirm that his name appears on the public extract of the register.

§ Mr. Madden
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
I am afraid that hon. Members are taking up a great deal of time. What is the point of order?

§ Mr. Madden
You, Mr. Speaker, are in the Chair to protect the interests of all hon. Members and, with due respect, the Minister has revealed that he is aware of the home address of a Member of the House. That seems to be a clear breach of assurances given by Ministers that such information would not be revealed to third parties. Therefore——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman could make his point much more briefly than that. Whether a Minister knows where an hon. Member lives is not a material matter for me. [HON. MEMBERS: "It is secret".] Order. It may not be a secret matter. It is a matter for the contents of the answer and not a matter for order in the Chamber. There are many more questions on the community charge.

§ Mr. Marlow
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I believe that in his supplementary question the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) used unparliamentary language. I should be grateful if you would require him to withdraw it.

§ Mr. Speaker
I think that the hon. Member used a word which is in current use today, but which I prefer not to hear in the Chamber.

§ Mr. George Howarth
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. There are many more questions to come on the community charge.

§ Mr. Howarth
rose——

§ Mr. Speaker
No.

§ Mr. Madden
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
No.