§ Mr. VazTo ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on recent representations she has received about the poll tax.
§ The Prime MinisterI continue to receive many representations about the community charge.
Now that bills are arriving in people's homes they can see the substantial help that the Government are providing through grants, rebates and transitional relief. They can also see the link between their councils' spending plans and the level of the charge for their area.
I share the concern of many over the unjustified high charges that have been set by some councils and I am confident that in the years ahead local electors will demand restraint. In the first year of the new arrangements however I warmly endorse the action of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in taking firm and immediate action against 20 authorities whose budgets are excessive.