HC Deb 27 March 1991 vol 188 c942
3. Mr. Haynes

To ask the Secretary State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to abolish the community charge by April 1992; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Michael Heseltine)

I announced on 21 March the Government's intention to replace the community charge by a new local tax with two essential elements—the number of adults in a household and the value of the property—and that we shall consult on the basis that the new tax could be in place in 1993–94.

Mr. Haynes

Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have a Secretary of State who is dithering like the Prime Minister. I remember when he wrote on the back of that envelope about his objectives, but he has dithered and jithered and he has not got there. What I want to tell the Secretary of State is——

Mr. Speaker

Order. Ask him a question, please.

Mr. Haynes

Is the Secretary of State aware—I will tell him this—that if he does not achieve his objective we shall do it after the next election?

Mr. Heseltine

There is no need for the Opposition to wait that long—they can join us in consulting and help to take the matter forward now.

Miss Emma Nicholson

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the labyrinthine proposals put forward by the Labour party in place of the community charge make his own look clear and simple, and that the Opposition's proposals would destroy the privacy and freedom of the individual with a mesh of state control?

Mr. Heseltine

My hon. Friend makes important points which I dare say will be amplified as the House moves to later business. However, she will be encouraged to know that the chairmen of the Association of County Councils and the Association of District Councils have today come out strongly in support of my announcement last week.

Mr. Gould

Is the Secretary of State aware that speculation is reaching fever pitch about some of the fundamental aspects of his two-tax proposal? For instance, is the poll tax element to be a flat rate tax, is the property element to be based on capital values, and what is the balance to be struck between the two? I know that in the current state of confusion and disarray it is difficult for the Secretary of State to offer answers to those simple questions, but may I offer him the possibility of giving us his best answer on any one of them of his own choice?

Mr. Heseltine

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's curiosity. I shall have to ask him to wait for two weeks, but he has kept the country waiting for 10 years.