HC Deb 31 January 1990 vol 166 cc299-300
6. Sir David Steel

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the level of the poll tax for 1990–91.

Mr. Rifkind

There is a wide variation in community charge levels. Some authorities have reduced the community charge, while others have made large increases.

Sir David Steel

Do not the figures released yesterday show an average increase over Scotland of 9.1 per cent., with many authorities showing increases of more than 15 per cent? In the light of that, how will the Government maintain the fiction to pensioners, ambulance men and others that the rise in the cost of living is 6.5 per cent?

Mr. Rifkind

I noticed that the right hon. Gentleman did not mention that the two district councils in his constituency have reduced the community charge, or that the regional council has had a zero increase—perhaps it should have reduced its charge, too, given the grantt that it received. The increases in the community charge were less than the local authorities were predicting, and would have been much less if Labour-controlled authorities had not substantially increased the community charge by going for higher spending. It has been significant that a number of Labour local authorities receiving large increases in grant have used the money to increase spending rather than to reduce the charge.

Sir Nicholas Fairbairn

Leaving aside the concept of averages or of the middle ground which is so favoured by the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Sir D. Steel)—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. We do not expect this at Scottish questions.

Sir Nicholas Fairbairn

Leaving aside the average concept or the middle ground so favoured by the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask my right hon. and learned Friend to lose no occasion to remind the people of Scotland and the people of England that if they want to have the money that they earn spent by Socialist authorities, they should vote Socialist? If they do not want that, they should vote Conservative.

Mr. Rifkind

There is no doubt that Labour authorities appear incapable of maintaining services without huge increases in local taxation, while non-Socialist authorities appear more able to maintain the same level of services by means of better management and better value for money. The public clearly and rightly take that factor into account.

Mr. Canavan

How can the Secretary of State possibly justify the Tory Government imposing this crippling tax system on the people of Scotland? In some areas the full poll tax will be more than £400, and even on maximum rebate people who depend on social security benefits and students who possibly have no grant will be expected to find more than £100 for the poll tax. Is it any wonder that at least half a million people throughout Scotland are refusing to pay the tax, or that many will continue their resistance until the Government come to their senses and abolish this iniquitous tax?

Mr. Rifkind

The hon. Gentleman's rather unimpressive sympathy for people on low incomes would be slightly more persuasive if he, with a substantial income, were prepared to pay the tax that Parliament expects his constituents to pay. With his large income, the hon. Gentleman does not set an example of a sense of social responsibility and he cannot expect the House to treat his views with other than contempt.

Mr. Dick Douglas (Dunfermline, West)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. An hon. Member used the word "cheat". Is not that unparliamentary?

Mr. Speaker

I did not hear it, nor did I hear what the hon. Member for Dunfermline, West (Mr. Douglas) was shouting a little earlier. We really ought to get on.