Orders Of The Day Local Government And Planning (Scotland) Bill As amended (in the Standing Committee), considered. 5.15 pm Mr. George Foulkes (South Ayrshire) On a point: of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. New clause 5 does not appear in Mr. Speaker's provisional selection of amendment3. I hesitate to criticise the judgment of a Speaker for whom I have great respect, but can representations be made to him during the course of what might be a lengthy evening? Six hon. Members support new clause 5, whereas amendments supported by only one hon. Member have been called. My hon. Friend the Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire (Mr. O'Neill), the Opposition spokesman on this matter, expressed his support: for the new clause. The bill gives the Secretary of State power to order major cutbacks in local authority education, but a subsidy of more than £2 million will continue for private schools in Scotland through the rate subsidy. The matter was not discussed in Committee and it would, therefore, seem appropriate for it to be discussed on Report. Can you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, or the Clerk of the House, make further representations to Mr. Speaker to see whether his provisional selection of amendments can be altered to include new clause 5? Mr. Ernie Ross (Dundee, West) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I agree that we do not wish to question Mr. Speaker's selection, but one of the new clauses that has been selected, in the name of the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. McQuarrie) and relating to dog control, took up a considerable amount of time in Committee, whereas new clause 5 was not discussed in Committee. I support my hon. Friend the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes) in asking that further representations be made to Mr. Speaker during the debate. Mr. Albert McQuarrie (Aberdeenshire, East) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The new clause on dog control to which the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) refers was not called for debate in Committee. Mr. John Maxton (Glasgow, Cathcart) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, this matter is the subject of a clause in another Bill that is now before the House and it seems odd—— Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bernard Weatherill) Order. The point of order to me was about new clause 5, not new clause 4. I think I must say to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes) that I understand that representations have already been made to Mr. Speaker to reconsider his selection to include new clause 5, but he came to the conclusion that he could not propose to alter the selection already made. Mr. Foulkes Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. While I accept what you have said, is it not possible to make further representations and to indicate that a number of hon. Members, including my hon. Friends the Members for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson), Kilmarnock (Mr. McKelvey), Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) and Dundee, West (Mr. Ross), support those representations? If it were made clear to Mr. Speaker that a substantial body of opinion in the House would like to discuss new clause 5, he might. in the spirit of tolerance and amiability that I know he has towards Scotland and Scottish Members, make an exception on this occasion. Would it be possible to make such representations? Mr. Deputy Speaker The hon. Gentleman has put his case very reasonably. I shall gladly draw this matter to the attention of Mr. Speaker once again, but I do not know what his reaction will be. Mr. John Home Robertson (Berwick and East Lothian) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker—— Mr. Deputy Speaker Order. There cannot be a further point of order. I have already said that I shall again draw the matter to the attention of Mr. Speaker. Mr. Home Robertson On a fresh point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I am not trying to waste time. However, when you hear from Mr. Speaker, will you be prepared to make a statement to the House? Mr. Deputy Speaker Before we reach the new clause I shall, of course, let the House know of Mr. Speaker's decision. New Clause 1 Limitation On Payment Which May Be Required Of Person Exercising Right To Purchase Under Tenants' Rights, Etc (Scotland) Act 1980 .—(1) In section 1 of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 (which relates to the rights of a public sector to purchase the house which he occupies) after subsection (1) there shall be inserted the following subsection— "(1A) Subject to subsection (1) above and to section 2(8) and 6 of this Act no person exercising (or seeking to exercise) a right to purchase under the said subsection (1) shall be obliged, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, to make any payment to or lodge any deposit with the landlord which he would not have been obliged to make or as the case may be lodge had he not exercised (or sought to exercise) the right to purchase: Provided that this subsection shall not apply as regards the expenses of any court proceedings." or'. (2) In section 4 of the said Act of 1980— (a) in subsection (1) at the beginning there shall be inserted the words "Subject to section I( IA) of this Act": and(b) in subsection (3) the words "incurred in connection with the sale of the dwelling-house" shall cease to have effect.'.—[Mr. Allan Stewart.] Brought up, and read the First time. The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Allan Stewart) I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. Mr. Deputy Speaker With this we may discuss the following: New clause 6—Sale of council houses in rural areas. New clause 9—Exception to right to buy. Amendment No. 76, in page 31, line 26, leave out clause 47. Government amendments Nos. 77 and 78. Amendment No. 79, in clause 47, page 31, line 35, leave out 'or exercise any discretion'. Amendment No. 80, in clause 47, page 31, line 37 leave out 'or, as the case may be, exercised'. Government amendments Nos. 81, 96, 113 and 116. Mr. Stewart At this stage in the debate I should like to speak to the Government amendments also. The need for new clause 1 and Government amendment No. 116 arises solely from the determination of a minority of Scottish local authorities—I stress that it is a minority—to find obstacles to put in the way of tenants who wish to exercise, or actively consider exercising, their right to buy their homes. In a nutshell, the combined effect of the new clause and Government amendment No. 116 is to obviate two methods of preventing or discouraging tenants from applying to exercise their right to buy. First, it will prevent contracting-out of the right to buy. Section 1(1) of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act already prohibits the inclusion of contracting-out provisions in tenancy agreements to stop local authorities from refusing to allocate a house unless the tenant signs a lease that would debar him from exercising the right to buy when he had the three years' qualifying tenancy. Government amendment No. 116 simply extends this principle to stop authorities from threatening to do, or not do, something unless an existing tenant agrees to contract out of the right to buy. We know of one authority that has given active consideration to refusing to modernise houses unless the tenant contracts out of the right to buy, and others may be doing so without the Government's being aware of it. There can be no justification for this. It is for the House to decide whether tenants of newly modernised houses should be penalised compared with other tenants, and the House decided when considering the legislation that there should be no such penalty. Secondly, new clause 1 will prevent local authorities from charging tenants who decide to exercise their right to buy. Again, this practice is confined to a tiny minority of Scottish local authorities. It can take two forms—charging a tenant who wishes to submit an application form a deposit, which is not returned to him if he decides not to buy, and charging a tenant who puts in an application form, but eventually decides not to buy, a penalty charge. The House will have noticed that both practices penalise the tenant who does not buy. One might have thought that the more doctrinaire Labour-controlled authorities would give such tenants a civic reception, but apparently they choose to punish them. It is not hard to see the reason for this. They hope to frighten their tenants in order to discourage them from exercising their rights under the Act. The people whom they are most likely to succeed in frightening are those who would like to own their own homes but who are on the borderline between being able to afford to do so and not being able. In other words, they are precisely the people who will never stand a chance of being home owners except through our policy to help sitting tenants buy the houses in which they live—in many ways, the most important group of all. It is not a crime to want to know whether one can afford to buy one's home or to know the conditions of sale, so that one can judge whether one feels able to take on the responsibilities of home ownership. It is wrong that anyone should have to pay for such information. Tenants have a right to apply to buy their homes, and charging them to do so is like setting up a toll booth on a public right of way and charging people to walk where they are entitled to walk. Mr. Gordon Wilson (Dundee, East) The Minister must realise that that is exactly what the Government have required applicants for planning permission to do. Leaving that aside, is he saying that under the existing legislation, without the changes that he is now proposing, it is legal for district councils to take the actions that he has indicated? Is it not correct to say that if a local authority refuses to use the machinery under the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act it will be possible for the applicant to take the case to the Scottish Lands Tribunal and to get justice that way? Mr. Stewart I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, because I am coming to the question of legality under the present legislation. The hon. Gentleman will know that it has always been the intention under the Act that charging should not be allowed. That was clearly the intention under the Act. There is nothing in the Act that permits charging. The hon. Gentleman asked whether local authorities can legally charge. One or two authorities have claimed, I think with dubious justification, that they can use their general powers in the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Let me refer in particular to what has happened in Stirling district, which is one of the authorities in question. The reporter at the inquiry into sales in Stirling found that the council had a duty to go ahead and issue offers to sell to those tenants who refused to pay a deposit. Unfortunately, even that clear indication of the incompatibility of its action with the requirements of the Act has not inhibited Stirling from continuing to ask for a deposit without telling tenants that they have exactly the same rights whether they pay it or not. Naturally, most people pay when their local authority tells them there is a charge, because they are accustomed to expecting reasonable standards of integrity from their elected representatives. Mr. Maxton I am slightly confused. At one point the Minister referred to charges, and at another to deposits. What is the difference between them, or is he talking about the same thing? To my mind they are two different things. Mr. Stewart I am talking about a deposit that may subsequently be lost, and in effect that is a charge. Therefore, I am not talking about two separate things. This trust, which is fully deserved by the great majority of councils, is betrayed when an authority does things that are at worst outside its powers and at best a conscious confidence trick to beguile people into paying something for nothing. I have no hesitation in recommending this second change as wholeheartedly as the first. Mr. Home Robertson The Minister is doing what his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his colleagues keep doing, and that is to make serious allegations against the conduct of local authorities in Scotland. How many local authorities is he talking about? Will he list them? 5.30 pm Mr. Stewart I cannot list the authorities, because we may not know which authorities are considering taking such action, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that I am making no allegation about the overwhelming majority of Scottish local authorities. We are talking about a tiny minority. Mr. Home Robertson Which ones? Mr. Stewart I have already named Stirling and the other one that we know of is East Lothian, which also has charges of this sort. Mr. Home Robertson I thank the Minister for giving way, as he named my constituency. I had a sneaking suspicion that he might mention East Lothian. Can he confirm what I know to be a fact, which is that no charge of the nature that he has described has ever been made by East Lothian district council? Mr. Stewart East Lothian has a deposit scheme, as I understand it. Mr. Home Robertson It has not enforced it. Mr. Stewart It does not have a great record in pushing the sales through, so the question has not arisen. The other set of Government amendments relates to clause 47. They involve extensive changes to the drafting of clause 47, but introduce a single, straightforward provision of substance. That provision is contained in amendment No. 78. Its purpose is to give the Lands Tribunal for Scotland jurisdiction in cases where landlords serve an offer to sell on a tenant who has applied to buy his council house, but the tenant alleges that the offer has not been compiled in accordance with the requirements of the Act. The power of the tribunal in such cases will simply be to decide whether the offer to sell is defective in terms of the requirements of the Act, and if it finds that it is to order the landlord to serve an offer to sell that is not defective. The tribunal will not take the case over and serve the replacement offer to sell. It was always the intention of the Act that the tribunal should be able to look behind the basic fact that a landlord has given the tenant a piece of paper, which is called an offer to sell, to see whether it is an offer to sell, constituted as the Act requires. However, in a recent case, the tribunal concluded that the Act as drafted did not give it that power, hence the necessity for these amendments. I illustrate the need for the amendment by describing the particular case that gave rise to it. The tenant complained that the landlord had used its own valuer to value the house without obtaining his consent as the Act requires, whereas he wished the district valuer to carry out the valuation. The tribunal considered the case and concluded that the tenant was right to complain. However, having identified this injustice to the tenant, the tribunal came to the conclusion that it had no power to do anything about it. In its judgment it drew attention to the unsatisfactoriness of this state of affairs, and it is difficult to see how anyone could disagree with that. The amendment, if it had been in force, would have allowed the tribunal to take the obvious course of ordering the landlord to have the house revalued and to serve on the tenant a new, properly constituted offer to sell. Another common example of the sort of case that has come to the tribunal, for which it has been unable to provide a remedy, is where the landlord refuses to include a garage in the sale, although it has been let in conjunction with the house. The Act is clear on this matter. Property that the tenant has habitually had use of in conjunction with the house is part of the house for the purposes of the sale. This applies to garden grounds and garden sheds just as much as to garages. Clearly, if there is a dispute about whether the Act requires something to be sold with the house, there should be an easy means of settling the dispute. The amendments will allow the tribunal to provide exactly that. The remainder of amendment No. 78 is a repetition of the previous provisions of subsection (1) of clause 47, with no change of substance. Amendments Nos. 77 and 133 are purely consequential. Amendment No. 81 is, in a sense, a technical provision. The House would probably like some explanation of it. Subsection (2) of clause 47 makes the changes in subsection (1) retrospective by a general provision that might, in practice, cause some confusion in individual cases. The amendment therefore substitutes a much more detailed provision. The effect of the amendment is that the tribunal's new powers will not apply to any case that it has dealt with at the date when the new provisions take effect. In other words—and this is important—no case can be reopened as a result of these powers. In the case that caused concern, to which I have referred, I am glad to be able to assure the House that the tenant and the landlord came to an agreement themselves. Amendment No. 96 is purely consequential on amendment No. 81. These improvements and clarifications of the present provisions will be of considerable benefit. They clarify and confirm Parliament's intentions and represent our continuing determination to ensure that those of Scotland's tenants who wish to do so can exercise their right to buy and that no impediments should be put in their way. Mr. Donald Dewar (Glasgow, Garscadden) The scope of this package of proposals is wide-ranging and generous. Some have come from the Government and some from the Opposition. There is also a continuing and extremely spirited debate in Scotland about the worth of part 1 of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980, and whether the Government are doing irreparable damage to the fabric of public sector housing in Scotland. The hon. Member for Renfrewshire, East (Mr. Stewart) said at the conclusion of his remarks that the Government were proposing improvements and clarification. The hon. Gentleman has clarified one or two points. Whether he has improved the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act is much more of an open question. I hope that I shall suggest that in many ways the opposite has happened as a result of his efforts. The Government have been tinkering—stopping little loopholes and buttressing restrictions here and there. They have done nothing to improve the general position that has resulted from the damaging effects of the tenants' rights Act as we are now experiencing it in Scotland. In the new clauses and the amendments that stand in the name of the Opposition, we are proposing important reforms. There is no suggestion that we are looking in the Bill for a fundamental assault on the tenants' rights Act. Although that is something that we should like to do, it would be out of place. A general local government and planning provision of this nature is not the measure to do that. However, we can and hope to mitigate some of the more unfortunate consequences and to ensure that when the Bill reaches the statute book the result will be that the tenants' rights Act will be a slightly more palatable measure and will allow Scotland's local authorities a little more freedom and discretion to manage their housing stocks. I do not wish to labour the point, but I wish to make it clear in the context of the debate that the many fears expressed over the past few years by local authorities are being amply justified in practice. The machinery in the Tenants' Rights Act has been divisive. It has heightened frustrations and tensions in housing. Anyone who represents an urban seat in Central Scotland, as I and many of my hon. Friends do, will know that there is a great deal of justified bitterness about the way in which the housing stock is being constantly raided. Those who are on housing waiting lists or in accommodation that is unsatisfactory in the simple physical sense, or in terms of amenity and convenience, and who are seeing the houses that they have waited so long for removed from the housing pool, have every right to complain. We have echoed their complaints persistently in debates for a long time. The hon. Member for Renfrewshire, East said that many sins were being committed by housing authorities in Scotland. In particular, he mentioned at one point that, for example, active consideration has been given by certain people to taking out of modernisation programmes, houses that were thought to be the subject of inquiries as to purchase. I should not advocate such a policy, but the sale of council houses distorts the judgment of local authorities in matters of this kind. At the end of the day, as they examine the management of their housing stock and the deployment of the ever-decreasing resources that the Government allow them, there is an understandable reluctance to spend money on housing that they know may be removed from the housing stock in the immediate future. I am not suggesting that that distortion is something that we could approve of or support. However, the Minister should face facts and accept that the housing stock is being affected and that the right of local authorities to manage their housing has been badly affected by the tenants' rights legislation. The situation will get worse. The hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind), who has been removed from our midst—I shall not say most cruelly—to other spheres of interest, constantly said that the best housing stock goes. Anyone who knows anything about housing in Scotland knows that the best stock, the highest amenity areas, the semi-detached houses, and the areas that are considered particularly desirable are where the sales are taking place. For Ministers to pretend otherwise shows either insensitive ignorance—perhaps that is perfectly believable of Conservative Members in Scotland—or, as I suspect, blatant brass neck. They must know from the advice given to them by their statisticians that the picture is very different from the one that they present. I come now to the group of amendments. New clause 1 stands in the name of the Minister. Its purpose is to prevent the charging of a deposit by a local authority at the start of the process that may lead to the sale of a council house. At one point, the Minister said that he could put the arguments in a nutshell. In my younger days there was a cliche in which people would have said that a nutshell was the best place for them. There is no doubt that the change is a comparatively minor one, and it does not justify the indignation that the Minister expressed. He named, in particular, the East Lothian authority, as well as Stirling. My hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) made it clear that his information in that respect is incorrect. I do not defend the practice of taking deposits, although section 2(8) allows a £100 deposit to buy a fixed price contract for two years. In these days of inflation, that is a remarkable bargain, and one which I believe is difficult to defend on any rational basis. However, the deposit is not something that we would encourage. Before the Minister waxes too indignant, he should consider many of the practices in the private sector in this respect. I agree with my hon. Friends that there was some confusion in what the Minister said about whether we were talking about a charge for the process which sets in train the sale, or whether it was a deposit against the price. From my experience of the private sector, there are many deposit sales in which large payments change hands as a percentage of the total price, and where the conveyancing is not completed until the total price has been paid, often with exorbitant interest charges over many years. So I am not clear whether the Minister's indignation should be confined to what I gather is an atypical practice in the public sector. There are many more important issues that we should be considering, and I suspect that the one that the Minister is talking about, if it is a deposit against the price, is comparatively unimportant. I come to the new clauses standing in the names of myself and my hon. Friends. The first, on which we shall certainly wish to divide the House, is new clause 6, referring to the sale of council houses in rural areas. It is particularly important because, although we know that there have been a large number of applications in urban areas—incidentally, nothing like as many as Ministers claim—it is clear that it is a much larger problem for rural local authorities. For example, in September 1981, there were applications covering about 2·8 per cent. —applications, of course, are very different from sales—of council housing stock. The figures in rural areas show that the percentage of the stock that is threatened by forced sale is very much larger. In Skye and Lochalsh it was 12·8 per cent., in Orkney it was 12·1 per cent., in the Western Isles it was 9·9 per cent., and in Badenoch it was 9·4 per cent. When one considers that the percentage of the housing stock in the public sector in communities like that is much smaller than in urban or industrial Scotland, one realises how serious has been the raid on available public sector housing. 5.45 pm I am indebted to Shelter, which has done a survey on the matter, for some interesting information about the reactions of local authorities to this threat. The danger is that when the housing has been bought by the sitting tenant, and the new owner has tholed his assize in terms of the period during which the discount has to be paid back on sale, there is then an extremely saleable article which may well change hands. not to provide housing accommodation for residents in that area, but to provide a holiday home for people coming into the area. I quote a letter that was sent to Shelter by the Skye and Lochalsh district council. It said that it "has the smallest housing stock of any housing authority in Scotland, and any loss in the resources available is a matter of serious concern…In Plockton, sales have been concentrated in a single high-amenity scheme in a village which is already experiencing problems with a high proportion of holiday homes". I do not know Plockton very well, but I know that it is one of the most beautiful areas of Scotland. If sales have been concentrated in a high-amenity scheme in Plockton, I imagine that they represent valuable assets on resale to burghers from Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, Birmingham or elsewhere, who want to go there during holiday time. It is interesting that in the list of authorities that I mentioned earlier, the average selling price of a council house in Skye and Lochalsh is £7,585. If one bought a high-amenity house in that area for that price, clearly one is on a substantial killing if, in three or four years' time, one is prepared to alienate it from local use and sell it to a visitor. I do not want to labour the point endlessly, but I may say that the same thing could be said of a number of other rural authorities, not only in the Highlands but in the Borders. Again, in the Shelter correspondence, I notice that Annandale and Esdale district council says: In some areas, the sale of one or two houses in some of our small stocks can represent a 50 per cent. reduction in the stock. If these houses are to be replaced, the unit costs will be very high, if not prohibitive." When one compares the average selling price of £7,500 that I mentioned—most of them are being sold at that price; the highest, I think, is in Badenoch, where it is just over £9,000—under the tenants' rights legislation, with the unit costs of building a new dwelling house in one of these outlying rural areas, one realises what an expensive loss to the housing stock the sale of one such house is. I am informed, for example, that in the Western Isles—the upper end, perhaps—the unit cost can be as high as £32,000. So there is a genuine problem in rural areas where housing is controlled by rural district councils. Of course we make a general attack on the whole principle of the Bill, but there is a specific problem in this connection which deserves our attention, and new clause 6 is an attempt to meet that problem. Mr. Robert Maclennan (Caithness and Sutherland) Does the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) recollect that in the last Labour Government's lifetime it was the practice of the then Secretary of State to permit local authorities, in such areas as the hon. Gentleman has been describing, to sell houses freely if they so chose? They exercised that right extensively. Mr. Dewar Yes, I am aware of that. However, I do not think that it is true to say that that was done extensively. It may be that the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) has a little tunnel vision if he thinks that Caithness is Scotland. In fact, Scotland is something he flies over to get to Caithness. I am aware that the Secretary of State under the last Government made a provision for Caithness to sell a significant number oF houses. However, Caithness's wishes were atypical. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will take the point that there is all the difference in the world between a local authority that wants to sell and a local authority that has been forced to sell against the best interests of the whole community. That is the distinction that we must hold onto firmly. I trust that the hon. Gentleman is not defending the Tenants' Rights Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 and standing up for the proposition that people should be able to buy in rural communities in the circumstances that I have outlined. Mr. Maclennan I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way again. I was seeking to draw attention to the fact that the last Labour Government were prepared to accept the principle of local option in this matter. It is clear that the hon. Gentleman is developing a new argument that would deprive local authorities of the option that has been exercised not just in Caithness, as he knows quite well, but in many rural authorities. Mr. Dewar I do not follow the hon. Gentleman's argument. I am certainly not trying in any way to deprive any local authority of a power. I am trying to protect authorities against the compulsory selling that takes place under the 1980 legislation. I would have thought—without being sarcastic, because I recognise that the Social Democrats, inevitably in their present state of flux, are making their policies as they go along—that we would have had their support at least on the essential condemnation of the tenants' rights act. Let me turn to the purpose of new clause 6 because that may counter the confusion in the hon. Gentleman's mind. It is attempting to stiffen up the exception in section 4(6) of the Tenants' Rights Etc. (Scotland) Act for rural housing. There is the possibility there of a re-purchase of a house in a rural area, but it is a possibility that is so hedged around with equivocal conditions as to be almost worthless. Section 4(7) of the Act provides that: An order under subsection (6) above may be made where— (a) within the said rural area more than one-third of the number of dwelling-houses of which the council concerned is the landlord…have been sold; and(b) the Secretary of State is satisfied that an unreasonable proportion of the houses sold have been resold and are not being used as the only or principal home of the owner. Any condition can last only for a maximum period of 10 years. Although there may be the possibility of a pre-emption clause in favour of the district council, the Secretary of State's permission is so heavily qualified as, we would submit, to be almost useless. New clause 6 attempts to provide—I do not see any objection to it in the argument of the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland—that "there will be no further disposal of the dwelling-house unless (a) the tenant…has offered to reconvey the dwelling-house to the landlord for a price to be determined by the district valuer as being the value of the dwelling-house at the time the offer is made; and(b) the landlord has refused the offer or has failed to accept it within one month". We are asking for the unqualified right to insist that if the house is being sold again, an offer at a fair market price should be made to the local authority first before it is sold, possibly into the private sector, and alienated from its proper use as a permanent home for people who live in that rural area. I hope that I have made that clear. This is a highly defensible new clause. It is not only highly defensible on its own merits but it is buttressed by experience south of the border. No doubt the right hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Jenkins) with his limited experience, with many others, will remember that in section 19 of the Housing Act 1980 there is a much less complicated provision for a right of pre-emption than is allowed in the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980. That provides that if a house is in a rural area "the conveyance or grant may contain a covenant limiting the freedom of the tenant and his successors in title to dispose of the dwelling-house in the manner specified below." That simply states that if it is in a specified rural area, in the original sale we can put in a covenant which stipulates that on any resale there must be an offer to the local authority that is making the original disposal. New clause 6 attempts to provide Scotland with a similar protection to that which has been granted in the Housing Acts in England and to guard against a real danger, which, as I understand it, has been recognised by local authorities throughout the length and breadth of rural Scotland. I recognise that there are rural Labour authorities—East Lothian is one—which are expressing serious concern, doubt and anxiety, but a large number of such authorities are Conservative controlled. That gives them no special virtue in my eyes, but perhaps it will guard against the suggestion that I am putting forward a partisan, narrow or bigoted case, and that in some way I have been bent in my judgment by my general antipathy to the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act. I do not believe that this safeguard can be seen as a wrecking amendment in any way. There is a strong case, even for Conservatives, for new clause 6. We shall press it in due course to a Division. Having spoken at some length on that, may I hurry on to one or two of the other provisions before the House. We believe that new clause 9 also has real and positive merit. Again, it will be our intention to divide the House on new clause 9. It attempts to deal with the vexed question of special housing for the old and disabled. The subject has been debated many times in the House and we return to it again and again because we feel particularly affronted about it. There is a long history of argument, and the House will remember—I do not intend to rehearse it in detail—that there was an announcement at a difficult stage of the English legislation that a concession was being made on housing for the disabled. The Secretary of State made a concession for Scotland at the same time. It was not made with good grace, but it was said to be an adequate concession which would put us on a par with what was being done by the Secretary of State for the Environment in England. As a result of that, we ultimately had the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Amendment Act 1980. The hon. Member for Pentlands, now the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs but then in charge of Scottish housing, made a great virtue of the fact that an important concession was being made. It may have been naive of me and some of my hon. Friends, but at the time we took that at its face value. We discovered later that the number of houses covered by the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Amendment Act 1980 was very small. They fell into the category of amenity housing which appears in the Scottish housing statistics. Those dated 31 March 1981, the latest available to me, show that in the whole of Scotland there were 4,126 houses potentially covered by that amending legislation. If one looks at the way in which it has been done, by some strange chance 966 were in Kirkcaldy, 1,264 were in Grampian, of which 1,206 were in Aberdeen city. Therefore, if one takes Kirkcaldy and Aberdeen city out of the list almost no houses were protected in the rest of Scotland. The point is most eloquently made by the Glasgow city figures. In many ways, Glasgow has the most acute housing problem in Scotland, if only because of its scale and size. The number of houses that appear under the category of amenity housing under the Glasgow city is 28. It would be too strong to say that this amending legislation was based upon fraudulent promises and has turned out to be a total conspiracy by the Government. They tried and appeared to give a concession, but at the end of the day the concession proved to be entirely worthless. 6 pm It is very much on that basis that we promote new clause 9. It is an attempt to give what we regard as adequate protection for housing that has been specially adapted for the use of the disabled. As the House will see, the clause covers houses with features "which are substantially different from those of ordinary dwelling houses and which are designed to make it suitable for occupation by physically disabled persons; …where the dwelling house is one of a group of dwelling houses which it is the practice of the landlord to let for occupancy by persons of pensionable age and a social service or special facilities are provided in close proximity to the group of dwelling houses for the only or main purpose of assisting those persons." The intention is to try to make a limited exception—again we are not trying to wreck—that covers the spirit of the concession as we understood it originally to have been offered. We are trying to ensure that in all our constituencies where there are small groups of houses in which there has been heavy public investment to make them acceptable and suitable for the disabled, or where they have been closely linked to central facilities or social services, that they should be retained in the housing stock and should not be sold without at least the permission and willing co-operation of the local authority. They must remain available for future tenants who may have the special difficulties that require such housing. That is a simple objective. It is met by new clause 9, and if the Minister had the good grace to accept the spirit in which the original amendment was offered, I do not see how he can be so churlish as to say now that he objects to new clause 9. Amendment No. 76 also stands in my name and those of my hon. Friends. It is a simple amendment to leave out clause 47. The reasons for it are self-evident. Clause 47 has now been revamped as a result of Government amendments. Therefore, we are in a complicated position. I am attempting to excise clause 47 as it stands, but if my amendment is carried—it is the only other amendment on which we intend to vote—we may excise the Government amendments as well. However, if we succeed on amendment No. 76, it may be that the Government amendments which refer to clause 47 will not be called. No doubt when we reach that point we shall have your expert guidance on that conundrum, Mr. Deputy Speaker. However, whether it be the original clause 47 or the souped-up version that is now being offered to us by the Minister, they are both objectionable and must go. It is not right that, although the Lands Tribunal may in terms of Government strategy be a necessary mechanism to ensure that the issue of offer and final conveyancing of an exchange of titles is completed, its mechanical function should be embellished by giving to the Lands Tribunal discretions which, up to now, have been exercised only by the local authority with its directly elected mandate. It is dangerous to say that, for example, the Lands Tribunal can make concessions about the amount of discount or the years of service that should be taken into account in calculating the discount. It is wrong, not in any narrow prejudiced sense, to wish to remove any power from the Lands Tribunal in terms of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980. It is wrong both in theory and in practice. The other amendments that stand in my name may well be redundant because they are specific amendments that relate to clause 47 as it is presently drawn. However, they make a point that is very much in tune with what I have already said about the exercise of discretion. If we consider the new formulation that the Minister is promoting, in paragraph 3(i) it would be a matter of excising the words "exercise any discretion" in line 15 and "give, exercise or as the case may be" in line 16. I hope that the Minister will consider whether it would be sensible to examine those possibilities if his new clause is carried. Government amendment No. 81 is the only one to which I take no exception, because it limits and puts a clear boundary on the exercise of discretion and powers by the Lands Tribunal. That has been a rapid Cook's tour through a complicated and complex series of amendments. do not intend to delay the House for much longer. All that I would say is that the two new clauses—that which deals with the right of pre-emption in rural areas and that which deals with the vexed question of housing specifically adapted for the disabled—would make a constructive contribution to the working of the tenants' rights Act and would improve it distinctly by striking out two self-evident anomalies. I make no apology for saying, and I made it clear at the beginning, that these are minor improvements in the sense that they do not remove the evil of the 1980 Act as presently operated. I fear that the strains, stresses and difficulties to which I referred will become much greater as time goes on. For example, it is interesting to note that the new public expenditure projections up to 1984–85 suggest that in Scotland we shall see a reduction in housing expenditure of 14 per cent. in cash terms—a cut of £106 million—which will be catastrophic if we make allowances for inflation and try to estimate what that is likely to be in real terms. It comes on top of the most massive cuts during the past few years in housing support grants, which has seen the essential fabric of our housing stock deteriorate simply because local authorities do not have the resources to maintain decent and reliable services. A recent written answer to a question from me on Monday 19 April states that expenditure on housing in 1981–82 was £327 million, which will fall to £269 million in 1982–83. We are facing a bleak and desperate period in terms of housing policy. Against that background, the pillaging of the housing stock and the selling of the best stock at knock-down prices, against the wishes of local authorities, will greatly compound the problems. I notice too that the sale of council houses will be a much larger part of the financing of the local authority housing effort under this Government than it should be. The net housing revenue allocation for 1982–83 for the city of Glasgow is £35 million, and to reach the total of £54 million the city must achieve a sale revenue of more than £18 million. It is extraordinary to note—the matter has already been raised and it may be of interest to my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian—that the net allocation on the HRA block grant for East Lothian is £1·8 million from the Government, but the authority is expected to add a considerably larger sum, £2·7 million, to that from the sale of council houses. That is a totally unrealistic, dishonest and fraudulent way in which to calculate housing finance on the capital side. The Government's achievement is a combination of misery and frustration. We have seen new building grind to a halt. We have seen the rewiring and modernisation schemes not just decimated but almost obliterated by the cuts that have been enforced by a Government who seem to see only one thing moving upwards—rents in Scotland. We can do nothing about the general policy in the Bill, but we can at least make our protest and try, through our new clauses and amendments, to do something to save at least specified, particularly sensitive areas of the housing stock from the worst excesses of the Government's prejudice. Mr. Gordon Wilson We have to accept that, unfortunate though it may be, the original Bill was well drafted and the Government have largely succeeded in their goal of forcing local authorities to sell their housing stocks. However, it is noticeable that in the two or three local government Bills following the Tenant's Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 there have been a number of amendments as the Government have rushed to plug some of the gaps in the original proposals. That is a comment on the ingenuity of certain local authorities, but there are some practices of local authorities of which one cannot approve. It is one thing to oppose the general sale of council houses, on the ground that it would impair the general distribution of housing available to tenants, but it is another to prevent individual tenants from exercising the rights given to them. I was worried when the Minister suggested that some local authorities—I am not sure whether East Lothian is among them—have apparently sought to give wrong advice to their tenants about their rights and obligations. That would be particularly reprehensible. The House has sought over the years to encourage the diffusion of information to individuals, whether through citizens advice bureaux, Members' surgeries or in other ways, to make sure that individuals know their rights. It is wrong for any local authority, exercising power and trusteeship, to seek to give wrong information to the public and particularly to its tenants to whom it has a contractual obligation. It was not clear from the Under-Secretary's comments whether there has been extensive abuse. It seems that the Government's amendments are intended to prevent wrong information from being imparted. If only one person has been mistakenly advised to give a deposit or has been put off from exercising his or her individual rights on the basis of erroneous information, that gives us cause for action. If tenants have considerable rights under existing legislation, I am not sure that the amendments will necessarily prevent wrong information from being given. A charge or deposit may be rendered illegal and perhaps not even one particularly bold district council will seek to perpetuate that practice. If other wrong information is supplied to tenants, they will undoubtedly be put off. New clause 1 deals with deposits and the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) was right to point out that deposits are paid in instalment sales. In addition, it is accepted under the general law that, instead of entering a full contract, people can take out an option under which they pay a certain sum and go ahead with the purchase at a later date. The premium for the option is either deducted from the price or is regarded as an addition. It is also possible that a premium will be returned to the purchaser. There are so many variations that it may be right for the Government to outlaw the practice in the sale of council houses. Such diverse variations could otherwise cause confusion. 6.15 pm It is also wrong for a local authority to put the frighteners on tenants over modernisation by saying that any work that is due to be done will automatically lead to an increase in the purchase price. If a tenant has been in the house for some time and living in inadequate conditions because modernisation has been delayed, it may be right for that work to be done, but I do not like the idea of an authority picking on individuals. The Government are right to prevent such practices. An Opposition new clause deals with the sale of council houses in rural areas. Although the hon. Member for Garscadden did not say so, the formula that he has adopted for what we used to call pre-emption follows substantially what was contained in many conveyancing documents. The suggestion is not new. It provides for the original purchaser to sell back to the original seller and, generally, that is not the sort of proposal which one would smile on, because it inhibits a person's rights, but we must bear in mind that the purchaser of a council house has bought the property at a heavily discounted rate and has been given a substantial bargain, which puts him in a different situation from any other purchaser. Secondly, and probably more important, the purchaser of a council house has acquired a property which may be of value to the community and particularly to those, whether young couples or others, who are on the housing list and may not otherwise be able to get a house. When we discussed such matters, almost ad nauseam, on the Bill providing for the sale of council houses, it was generally agreed that in country and coastal areas there would be pressure on the councils to sell their properties as holiday homes. The first sale will be to an existing tenant, but I think that most hon. Members will agree that second home purchasing is wrong, especially if it leads to the deprivation of the rights of indigenous inhabitants. There would be no problem if there were a surfeit of houses, but in many rural areas there is a shortage of properties and many people are driven away from those communities because they cannot get a local authority house. It could be argued that once a local authority had disposed of a property to a tenant there would be no need for it to be involved again, because it could acquire land, by compulsory purchase if necessary, and build new houses to cater for the tenanted sector. However, it is clear from the public expenditure White Paper that the money to do that will not be available to local authorities and there will consequently be great pressure on them. I support new clauses 6 and 9. I shall not go into detail on new clause 9. It was self-evident during the discussions on the original Bill that there was pressure on housing for the disabled and the elderly. Houses for the disabled have been converted and made suitable for disabled persons. Those houses in turn should be made available to other disabled people. With the inhibitions on finance, local authorities, although many of them may sacrifice other areas of expenditure to take care of the interests of disabled people, may find themselves in difficulty and slow down some of the conversion work. The argument applies equally to houses for people of pensionable age. In my constituency there are many elderly people who do not need sheltered houses but who would be happy if they had a ground floor flat for the time being to which they could gain access without having to climb stairs. That sort of house, once having been purchased by an elderly tenant and resold, may not go to elderly people. It may go to anyone else who wishes to acquire that house because he or she likes a ground floor flat. If there is such a demand for housing for the elderly, any house that is fitted for the disabled or suitable for the elderly should be reserved in the housing bank for that purpose. Therefore, I am wholly behind the Opposition in what they are seeking to do for the disabled and the elderly in exempting that classification of house from the list. I congratulate them on giving us the opportunity to discuss this matter once more. Perhaps we shall be outvoted by Conservative Members, as has happened previously. Mr. Home Robertson Where are they? Mr. Wilson When it comes to Divisions, hon. Members tend to come out of the woodwork. If the Government decide to oppose this valuable new clause, that exception will be reversed. Why should that be done? The Government should not be tied to every detail of the legislation that was introduced about two years ago. They should graciously accept the valuable and limited point made in the new clause. My final point relates to amendments Nos. 76, 79 and 80. The hon. Member for Garscadden gracefully flitted over amendments Nos. 79 and 80 and rested his case mainly on amendment No. 76, which proposes to excise clause 47 from the Bill. That may be an estimable intention, but unfortunately those of us who were not on the Committee are not aware of the arguments that would make that necessary. The hon. Gentleman said that it would be wrong to give discretion to the Lands Tribunal. However, sometimes it is useful to give discretion to such a statutory body. It all depends on the nature of the discretion and the other rules that it is bound to keep. Therefore, before deciding whether I shall support amendment No. 76, I shall wish to hear not only the hon. Gentleman speak at greater length about that matter, but the Minister justify the changes that he is proposing to make. I am glad that we have been able to start with the important subject of housing which concerns a great many people. In view of the Government's disastrous policy to reduce expenditure on housing when there is such great need, I ask them to reconsider some of the points that have been made, hearing in mind that I shall be glad to support them on the new clause to cure individual abuse. If they are willing to cure individual abuse, I hope that they will be willing to cure general abuse in certain categories. Mr. Norman Buchan (Renfrewshire, West) This is my maiden speech on the Bill. I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the Scottish housing problem. I shall refer in particular to new clauses 6 and 9 and to amendment No. 76. From the beginning the Opposition have opposed the Government's proposals to give tenants the right to purchase their houses regardless of local needs and of the wishes of the local authority. In a number of areas, specific hardship is caused. As my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) said, we knew what would happen in the areas with better amenities. There is an opportunity for the Government to respond to real local needs. The first is in relation to rural housing. The problem that we are facing in rural areas stems partly from the lack of rural policy by both this and the previous Government. The problem has been heightened by the decrease in the number of people who live and work in the countryside. During the last 15 years about 125,000 agricultural workers have left the land. That does not necessarily mean rural depopulation, because there are plenty of commuters coming in, but it means that those who worked on the land and contributed to the preservation of our rural life have left. A problem arises in the attempt to reverse agricultural policy and to develop a positive policy to encourage the rural economy in other ways. In that situation the provision of local authority housing becomes paramount. The purchase and consequent sale of local authority housing will not be to people who are working on the land or in the rural economy, but to the commuter and the weekender. In other words, the process of depopulation will be sharpened, because people who work on the land will be forced out of rural areas. In addition, there is pressure on jobs and pressure because of a lack of housing. Such a policy is adding to the erosion of a healthy rural economy. That erosion is not aided by the situation facing the rural worker. In England and Wales there has been the abolition of tied cottages and the local authorities have a duty to provide houses when they are also being compelled to sell houses, but that is not the case in Scotland. In a rural area in Scotland a worker in a tied cottage may lose his job. The local authority may wish to exercise its discretion and assist in giving him a house, but it is finding that its stock of houses is being denuded. Therefore, there is less of a case in rural areas for continuing the policy than there is in the cities. In rural areas, we are seeking to bring about a change in policy. The hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) said that there was a case for a local option. He cited Caithness. In new clause 6 the local option exists, because if a local authority does not wish to purchase, it does not need to do so. When I look at that new clause, I am astonished at the moderation of my hon. Friends. It could have been, and needs to be, tougher. However, I recognise that my hon. Friends are relying on the goodwill of the Government, with their craven majority, and that the only way in which the new clause might be accepted is if that majority is dented and we gain support for this moderate proposal. There is no justification for the local option unless there is a massive surplus of houses. But even if there is, it must be given the opportunity of being exempt, so that local authorities have the chance to purchase property hack. I plead with the Government to reverse their policy for rural areas. The opportunity for a local option should be given. Rural areas are being depopulated. Craftsmen, tradesmen and farm workers are leaving and houses for them should be available. 6.30 pm The House has experienced the argument in new clause 9. We remember the promises that were given by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) and the Government, but the number of amenity dwellings covered is small. Glasgow had only 28 and Grampian and Aberdeen had about one half of the 4,000 dwellings between them. In practice, therefore, the Government's concession to protect the disabled and the elderly by retaining the stock of amenity dwellings was a hollow promise. In the area that I represent. Renfrew district council has no amenity dwellings that will be covered by the criteria laid down by the Government. Not one house will be protected and maintained by the local authority as a result of the Conservative proposal. The Minister represents that area also. He should know the problems there. He should know that not one house that is being let and is intended for the elderly or the disabled will be protected by the legislation. Mr. Ernie Ross Will my hon. Friend give way to allow the Minister to reply? Mr. Buchan I shall gladly do so. The Minister must hear a responsibility for the area that he represents. It is shameful that he did not stand up immediately in the face of the craven majority behind him—the few of them who are present—and accept my proposal on the spot. The disabled and elderly cannot easily rectify the problem that will be created by the sale of houses that are specially made for them. Their problem is different from that of young couples, who perhaps work—which would be a lucky event these days—and can probably save to purchase a house. In Renfrewshire, young couples must save to purchase their own houses, because the housing support grant has been savagely cut, as has the house building programme and the home improvements and repair scheme. Young couples might be able to purchase a house, but the elderly and disabled, by definition, are unable to enter that market. They are wholly reliant on the provision of public housing. The houses that they need are now being sold off. That represents a reduction in the available housing stock. It is disgraceful. I hope that the Minister will answer the case. I do not want an answer that juggles the recent figures for Renfrew district council. Mr. Allan Stewart I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman from the other part of Renfrewshire for giving way. Will he explain why Renfrew district council underspent by £1 million its capital housing budget? Mr. Buchan That is exactly my point. It is a waste of time for the Minister to juggle with the figures. The answer is that not only do I not know, but Renfrew district council also apparently does not know. However, one thing is certain. The so-called underspend, which has not yet been properly analysed, was not an underspend of money, but a lack of borrowing. It was borrowing consent that the council had not used, so it does not add much to the housing figures. That is one reason why I am glad that the Minister responded. I am pleased to have that matter out of the way. I return to the point that I was making about grant concessions on amenity dwellings. None has been provided in my area. Nevertheless, it should be borne in mind that local authorities do not necessarily build houses that are different and specially designed for the elderly. They also operate a letting policy of housing that is more suitable for the elderly. Another local authority in my area, Inverclyde, has a 10-storey block of flats. It operates an intelligent policy of letting most of the flats to the elderly, and a smaller proportion to young couples. As a result, the young couples can help the elderly. The authority has thereby created a sense of community and independence. By no token can those properties be brought under a highly specialised category of housing. They are ordinary flats. More consideration should be given to such housing. If the Government cannot find it in their hearts to provide a special housing support grant for more specialised housing, they can at least encourage an intelligent social and community policy of letting. They can enable local authorities to reserve housing that can be earmarked for that purpose. One of the saddest aspects of the legislation is that we are depriving the disabled and the elderly, more sharply than other age groups, of housing. The rural areas, where special factors apply, are being singled out. The Government can give concessions on both of the points that I have made. Let us ensure that my suggestions are accepted and enable local authorities to exercise an option if they so choose. If local authorities do not feel that my suggestions go far enough, we should impose upon them a duty to prevent the sale of such properties. Amendment No. 76 would do away with clause 47 and the right of the lands tribunals to intervene. If my memory serves me correctly, I reactivated the lands tribunals. Mr. Ernie Ross So it is all my hon. Friend's fault. Mr. Buchan No, it is not my fault. The lands tribunals were reactivated for a specific purpose. I was looking for a specific instrument to deal with the problem of feudal superiors exercising tyrannical power over tenants with regard to purchase and so on. The Tories then came along and turned the idea on its head. Instead of giving tenants the power and freedom, the Tories have used it to impose yet another tyranny on the tenants, and even on the local authorities to whom the original tenants could look for some protection. In spite of the technical problems for you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I hope that this matter can be pushed to a vote and carried. Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bernard Weatherill) At the beginning of the debate, the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes) asked me to draw the attention of Mr. Speaker to strong representations from him and a number of other hon. Members about the fact that Mr. Speaker had not selected for debate new clause 5. I have made representations to Mr. Speaker on the hon. Gentleman's behalf, but Mr. Speaker has asked me to say that he regrets that he cannot change his selection. Mr. Foulkes Naturally, I am deeply disappointed, but I am grateful to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and to the Clerk for making those representations. Mr. Home Robertson Like my hon. Friend the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes), I am disappointed, although I fully accept the statement that you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, have made. Like my hon. Friend the Member for Renfrewshire, West (Mr. Buchan), I represent a largely rural constituency and I, too, wish to say something about the problems created by the sale of local authority houses in rural areas of Scotland. As we are debating what at Labour Party conference would be described as a substantial composite, consisting of no fewer than 12 new clauses and amendments, it may be helpful if I work through them in the order in which they appear on the amendment paper. It is appropriate that the Report stage of the Bill should take place this week, when the people of Scotland go to the polls to elect their own regional councils whereas the proposals before us are entirely concerned with interference in the activities of local authorities. I am glad that the Secretary of State for Scotland has done us the favour of actually showing his face in the debate. Mr. Norman Hogg (Dunbartonshire, East) Which one is he? Mr. Home Robertson I think that he is the third one along in the middle. The Secretary of State has done nothing but interfere with the conduct of local affairs since he took office. Many of us wish that he would let the people of Scotland elect their local authorities and then let the authorities get on with their work. I am heartily sick of explaining to Conservative Members that neither I nor, so far as I know, any other Opposition Member has any objection in principle to owner-occupation of houses. Indeed, it would be ridiculous and hypocritical for a Member such as me to object to people owning their own homes. My concern, however, is for the 2,000 people on housing waiting lists in my constituency, and for the much greater number of people on waiting lists elsewhere. New clause 1 deals with the deposits or charges that may be imposed by local authorities. I believe that the Minister said that Stirling district council may be imposing the kind of charge that he has in mind. He also implied that East Lothian district council in my constituency imposes such charges. I understand from a member of that district council, however, that, although the council at an early stage reserved the right to impose such charges, it has not actually collected any money on this pretext. In a sense, it is not wholly unreasonable that local authorities should seek some means of covering the administrative costs of operating the scheme. Just as estate agents in some circumstances ask people to pay the cost of obtaining particulars of properties that they wish to purchase, as it clearly costs the agents money to print material and to deal with the administrative work involved in advertising property for sale, and so on, local authorities also have to face additional costs as a result of having to operate this scheme. The Minister has made it clear that he does not wish the authorities to recover the costs from the people buying the houses, but he has not favoured us with an explanation of how they are to recover the costs. Perhaps they are to recover them from the ratepayers, although I understood that the Minister liked to style himself the ratepayer's friend. Perhaps he will increase the rate support grant to cover these costs. 6.45 pm Some curious suggestions have been made by people speaking on behalf of the Secretary of State for Scotland as to how the administrative work involved is to be carried out. The leader of the Conservative group on East Lothian council suggested that all the administrative work should be carried out by the Lands Tribunal, and that the district council should not do any of it. The Secretary of State's counsel at a public inquiry into the sale of council houses in East Lothian, Mr. Craig Henry, suggested that the purchasers should draw their own deed plans. That strikes me as a recipe for chaos, as there may be overlapping properties and the same piece of land or garden may be sold twice. The same learned counsel also suggested that the district valuer's valuation should be legally binding on the district council as the seller, and that even if there were a clerical error in it—the odd nought added on or left off—the district council should not have the right to query it. That is the kind of argument that has been advanced to try to get around the administrative problems that are bound to arise in property transactions of this kind. New clause 6 is intended to safeguard housing in rural areas of Scotland. This is of great importance to me as I represent a mainly rural constituency. Clearly it is vital for small communities in rural areas that there should be a reasonable amount of housing available to let, so that the communities can remain alive. It is important that young people should be able to find houses even if they cannot afford to buy, so that communities do not suffer unnecessary social distortion, for instance, by large numbers of retired people coming in from urban areas, It is certainly true—I shall adduce evidence for this later—that pressure is building up on the better quality housing in the better amenity areas throughout Scotland. It follows from that that the housing that will be left for letting to prospective council tenants in the future will be the poorer housing in the less attractive areas. In constituencies such as mine there is also the problem of holiday houses. Clearly people cannot buy holiday houses directly from the local authority. In the past two or three years, however, some tenants in my constituency have bought their houses and then died or decided to move elsewhere and the houses have been resold. Naturally, the seller wishes to obtain the highest price that he can, so he sells to the highest bidder. It is no surprise to Opposition Members, nor, I suspect, to anyone else, that in attractive rural or seaside areas the highest bidder is not the young family struggling to buy their first house. I hear the Minister muttering. Does he wish to say something? Mr. Maxton He is embarrassed. Mr. Home Robertson He should be embarrassed at what he is doing. Mr. John Corrie (Bute and North Ayrshire) Can the hon. Gentleman estimate how many agricultural cottages in his area have been made holiday cottages by farmers and estate people? Surely that is taking housing stock out of the agricultural areas he is talking about? Mr. Home Robertson That is a perfectly fair point. I have not the detailed information for which the hon. Gentleman asks, but he is right to point to the problem that is being created in some areas by the fact that former agricultural tied housing is being sold to the highest bidder. It is bad enough for a remote house, perhaps a farm cottage, to be sold; it is 10 times worse for a house within a small village community to be lost to the local community in circumstances of this kind. Mr. William McKelvey (Kilmarnock) Does my hon. Friend agree that it is even worse if it is a tied cottage from which there has been an enforced eviction and which is sold as a holiday cottage? Mr. Home Robertson I was about to move on to the question of agricultural tied housing, because it is relevant. I am sorry to tell my hon. Friend that what he has described has occurred. People have been evicted from agricultural tied housing on the pretext that the farmer requires the house for an incoming worker, but within months the house has been sold as a holiday house. I do not want to overstate my case. I am not saying that this is happening all over Scotland, but it has happened, it can happen, and it is an abuse. As a number of hon. Members know, I have in the past attempted to amend the legislation concerning agricultural tied housing in Scotland to bring it into line with the improved legislation that applies in England and Wales. Indeed, my hon. Friends and I intend to do everything we can to press for that. Many of us feel that it will be not only beneficial from a housing point of view but useful for the agriculture industry. At present, if a farmer requires accommodation for an incoming worker in Scotland and he has either the widow of a former worker or a retired worker living in a farm cottage, he cannot go through the civilised procedures available in England and Wales. He has to get a court order for the eviction of the farm worker and his family. My hon. Friend the Member for Renfrewshire, West suggested that there are not proper procedures for getting these people rehoused by local authorities, and of course there are not. Nevertheless, the local authority must house them, because when they have been evicted they are homeless and become eligible for housing under the housing of homeless persons legislation. So it is a pretty unsatisfactory state of affairs. Mr. Buchan My hon. Friend is perfectly right and I never suggested anything to the contrary. I was talking about the existing process, which as he says is a gentler and more civilised process in England and Wales than that in Scotland. But the effect is the same—difficulty is imposed on a local authority whose stock is slowly being eroded. Mr. Home Robertson My hon. Friend is quite right. The impact of the process that this Government have set in motion is already reducing the housing stock, not dramatically but significantly, and is creating problems of the type he has described. Indeed, after my Ten-Minute Bill on this question had a Second Reading in rather curious circumstances—the Government Back Benchers who had appointed themselves as Whips forgot to shout "No" at the appropriate moment; I think one of the Members concerned is now a Government Whip, the hon. Member for Galloway (Mr. Lang) —discussions took place between myself, representatives of CoSLA, representatives of the National Farmers Union in Scotland and representatives of Shelter and it became clear that everybody concerned with this problem, including the farming industry and local authorities, was aware that the situation was being aggravated because a disproportionate number of houses were being lost in the rural areas. This legislation has yet another effect on rural communities in Scotland. We are getting an increasingly aged population in some of our small villages, because when a house is sold to the highest bidder in the circumstances I have described on many occasions it is not a young couple who buy it; it is someone from one of the cities. Therefore, geriatric communities are being created quite unnecessarily in some of our small villages. It ought to be one of our objectives to keep a balanced population in all our communities throughout Scotland. I cite as evidence of the fact that a problem is being created a paper which has been submitted to the housing committee of East Lothian district council. I have no reason to believe that the same factors outlined in this paper do not apply in all the other rural areas of Scotland. It reads: "Applications to purchase have been received representing 3 per cent. of the total district council housing stock. However, within this figure there are substantial local variations. Applications within specific letting areas range from 0·8 per cent. in Wallyford and Whitecraig", which are former mining villages, to 6·8 per cent. in Longniddry, which is near the coast, 5·6 per cent. in Pencaitland, which is getting up towards the attractive area in the Lammermuir Hills, and 6 per cent. in Port Seton and Cockenzie, again on the coast. These also show disproportionate numbers of applications. In the town of Musselburgh one letting area containing less than 30 per cent. of the town's public housing stock generated nearly two thirds of the applications for housing. Noticeable preferences are also apparent in the size and type of house subject to purchase. On the north coast applications to purchase two-apartment houses represent only 0·8 per cent. of the total, although this size of house represents 10·3 per cent. of the public stock. Conversely, 43·2 per cent. of applications are from tenants of four-apartment houses, whereas this size of house represents only 31·3 per cent. of the stock. Indeed, in some areas tenants of a substantial proportion of the four-apartment stock have applied to purchase. For example, in Gullane, which is in the area of the Muirfield golf course, 13·3 per cent. of tenants in four-apartment houses wish to purchase, in Longniddry 10·5 per cent. and in North Berwick 9 per cent. Those are relevant figures that show the sort of discrepancies in the way that the right-to-buy legislation is working. The paper goes on to say: "Over three-quarters of applicants are tenants of detached, semi-detached and end terrace houses whereas only 6·6 per cent. of applicants currently live in flatted accommodation, which comprises 28 per cent. of the stock." Mr. Foulkes Here is someone who is looking for a house in Scotland. Mr. Home Robertson I do not know whether the right hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Jenkins) has found one. If he has, I sincerely hope it is not in East Lothian. Mr. Foulkes Would my hon. Friend advise the right hon. Gentleman to seek a short-term tenancy if he is looking for a house in Scotland? Mr. Home Robertson I think that the right hon. Gentleman has only a short-term tenancy of this Chamber, because he has already left. Anyway, far be it from me to offer that kind of advice to him. The final paragraph of this paper is particularly relevant to new clause 6: "Another noticeable feature is the situation in some of the smaller settlements within the District where a substantial proportion of the public stock is likely to be sold. In Humbie applications to purchase have been received from tenants of 3 of the remaining 4 council houses, in Stenton 4 from 16."—— and I could go on to cite others. In one small community in Berwickshire—it is in my constituency—there were only four council houses. All of them have been sold. Anyone who wants to rent a house in that area may as well give up and go somewhere else. 7 pm New clause 9 concerns safeguards for the disabled and the elderly. Last year, or the year before, the Secretary of State for the Environment, under parliamentary pressure, made a concession. He said that certain safeguards would be enshrined in English legislation for the public ownership of specialist housing for the disabled and the elderly. He honoured his promise and undertaking. I wish I could say the same for the Secretary of State for Scotland. When the necessary amending legislation was brought before the House, it became clear that it had been drafted in such a way that most of the houses in Scotland were not safeguarded. Mr. Maclennan Does the hon. Gentleman attribute that to malice or incompetence? Mr. Home Robertson I suspect a combination of both. In view of the company that the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) keeps nowadays, he should be more familiar with these things than I am. I assure the hon. Gentleman that I bear no malice towards him personally. My concern about the problems of access to buildings generally for the disabled is well known. I make no apology for having raised the issue on numerous occasions in Committee and in the House. I have made numerous attempts to ensure that public buildings in Scotland are properly accessible to the disabled. What could be more important than for the disabled to have access to their own homes? Surely they should be able to pass through the door of their house without having to face enormous difficulties. We all have constituents who are suffering from various disabilities related to age—for example, arthritis and rheumatism—and many of them find it difficult to enter and leave their houses. Over the years local authorities have gone to great lengths to try to build suitable housing to meet the requirements of the disabled and the elderly. However, houses that were intended to be used by those people are being sold to others because in Scotland we do not have the same safeguards as in England and Wales. The highest bidder is not normally an elderly or disabled person. He will be someone who wants a particular size of house in the neighbourhood where the sale takes place. The figures to which my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) referred are just as alarming as the figures that we discovered when the Government introduced their pitifully inadequate amending legislation, which in Scotland failed to fulfil the promise given to the House on behalf of the Secretary of State for Scotland by the Secretary of State for the Environment. It is ludicrous that only 4,126 houses throughout Scotland are protected by the amending legislation. Practically all of them are in Aberdeen and Kirkcaldy. Only a handful of them are in my constituency. This means that those who are disabled and/or elderly and who have difficulty in getting up and down steps will have to wait that much longer for suitable housing. Mr. Maxton rose—— Mr. Home Robertson I must advise my hon. Friend that it will be a long night. The Government have tabled numerous amendments and new clauses. It is scandalous that we are to have only one day to discuss the Bill on Report. A tome of amendments and new clauses has been prepared by the Government. It appears that we are expected to plough through it and to give the amendments and new clauses proper and adequate scrutiny within one parliamentary day. Some time has already been lost, quite properly—— Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ernest Armstrong) Order. The hon. Gentleman must not be tempted by sedentary interruptions. Mr. Home Robertson I am grateful for your protection, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I am surrounded by sedentary interrupters. Amendments Nos. 78, 81 and 113 refer to the Lands Tribunal for Scotland. I fear that we are being asked to compound an error that has been built into the Bill in clause 47. Is the tribunal up to the job that the Government have in mind for it? I understand that it consists of one judge, two chartered surveyors and a lawyer. Presumably it has administrative staff. Counsel for the Secretary of State at the public inquiry into council housing in East Lothian suggested that the tribunal's valuations for the purpose of council house sales should be mandatory. If that suggestion is being advanced on the Government's behalf, it is doubly important that the tribunal should get its figures right. I wonder whether it is able to do so. Even a typing error may lose an authority many thousands of pounds. The Conservative group in one of the local authorities in my constituency thinks that the tribunal should conduct all the council house sales itself without local authorities being involved in the conveyancing. That is a curious idea as well. As I have said, I fear that the amendments will compound an error that has been built into clause 47. The clause should be done away with and, therefore, I support amendment No. 76. Is the tribunal an appropriate body to excercise the discretion which is envisaged? I understand that it is a judicial body. Surely it is inappropriate for such a body with such a staff to exercise commercial and social discretion of the sort required by the Bill. I know that my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) is bursting to catch your eye, Mr. Deputy Speaker. In the interests of brevity and to illustrate my wish to make progress, I shall resume my seat. Mr. Maxton I apologise to my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) for rising during his speech. I did so because I thought that he had finished. His latter remarks were extremely apposite. I hope that he did not think that I was seeking to curtail his remarks. That was not my intention. Mr. Home Robertson I am very upset. Mr. Maxton If my hon. Friend is upset, I doubly apologise to him. I am sure that he will forgive me as the night proceeds. I shall not be tempted further by my hon. Friend's sedentary interruptions. It is appropriate that we should be debating part of the Tenants' Rights, Etc (Scotland) Act 1980 in the context of the Bill only two days before the regional elections in Scotland. That was the first of the Government's measures to take powers away from local authorities. The Bill is the latest legislation by which the Government are seeking to take powers away from Scottish local authorities. Therefore it is right that on the Government's third anniversary we should be examining the first Act as well as considering the Bill. There has been an erosion of the power of local government and its ability to take decisions at local levels about the future of local services and areas. That has been the trend throughout the Government's term of office. The Government's constant claim throughout the past three years has been that the ratepayers of Scotland support them and that the ratepayers believe that the Government are right. My view—and so far the opinion polls bear me out—is that the elections on Thursday will show that the electors of Scotland, and in particular those in areas, such as Lothian which the Government have hit hardest, will prove the Government wrong and will give their wholehearted support to the present administration in the Lothian region. On Friday night, I saw the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Ancram) squirming at the results of an opinion poll which, after what the Government believed was a popular measure, showed that support for the Conservative Party in the Lothian region was 23 per cent. I come now to new clause 1 and to some of the points made by my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian. Mr. Norman Hogg Before my hon. Friend leaves his important point about the Lothian region and the elections in Scotland next Thursday, would he consider it appropriate to suggest to the Minister responsible for local government that if the election result confirms the poll to which he referred, the Minister should tender his resignation? Mr. Deputy Speaker Order I hope that the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) will not be tempted to answer that. I do not see the elections mentioned in new clause 1. Mr. Maxton My hon. Friend makes a good point but I would not accept the Minister's resignation. More appropriately, perhaps, the Secretary of State might withdraw the order that he intends to make against Lothian region in terms of the rate and grants that he intends to give to Lothian region. That is a matter that he would have to consider. I return to new clause 1. I found very odd the Minister's answer to a question that I put to him during his speech concerning the difference between charges and deposits. It is the first time that I have heard a deposit described as a charge. A deposit is lost only if the option to purchase is not taken up. If the person who has paid a deposit goes ahead and purchases the property, the deposit is then deducted from the purchase price. I assume that that is what the Minister means by a deposit. I hope that the Minister is listening and is not busy doing his correspondence. It can be called a charge only if a person who has decided to purchase is asked for a deposit and then decides, for whatever reason, that he is unable to continue. In the present circumstances that may be because he has been declared redundant and is no longer able to afford to continue with the purchase of a house. Only then can it be called a charge, because the person has lost the deposit. I should have objections to local authorities imposing that type of deposit on tenants who are seeking to buy. I find it irresponsible of the Government to expect local government, on commercial grounds, to work towards the standards of private enterprise and private industry and then impose different standards on local authorities from those which apply to the private sector. 7.15 pm I shall give an example of the private building sector. About seven years ago I bought a new house. When I first intimated my intention to the sellers, I was asked to make a deposit of £100. Having made that deposit, I had to look for a mortgage to pay for the house, because, despite what some Conservative Members may think, I could not afford to buy a house out of my own bank balance. If a mortgage had been refused me, I should have lost my £100 deposit. That is the normal practice within the private building sector. Therefore, why should the Government, who believe so strongly in the private sector and in the standards of private industry and private enterprise, object to a local authority imposing the same type of standards in order to discourage the frivolous person who might tie up local authority manpower in making searches? Searches must be made to show that a person has the tenancy, and, therefore, the right to a rebate on the price. It is not only a matter of researching a tenancy in the particular district in which a person rents a house. In some cases the local authority may have to research the tenancy of people in other districts. I give as an example a case on which we had long arguments in Committee. A person from a local authority in England is first given a council house tenancy in Scotland and then given permission to purchase his house. The discount that he receives is calculated not just on the period of tenancy in the district authority in Scotland, but on the basis of his tenancy in the other authority. Both tenancies must be researched. Carrying out such searches involves heavy costs for local authorities. Surely it is not inappropriate for the Government to impose the same standards in such cases as those imposed by the private sector. If a house is to be sold and a search into the lease of the property has to be carried out by a lawyer or a surveyor, it is not the seller of the property but the purchaser who has to pick up the bill for lawyers' and surveyors' fees. If that is the case for the private sector, what are the Government doing by saying that a local authority cannot do the same thing in the sale of its property? It is illogical for the Government to have such double standards for the public and private sectors, particularly when they say that local authorities must work in the same way as private enterprise. It is often said that local government is inefficient because it does not have to be cost-effective in the same way as the private sector. The new clause would force local authorities to bear costs that no private seller would have to hear. Extra costs are being imposed on the landlord. The Minister tells us that only two district councils are acting in that way. My hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian knows the East Lothian district council. He tells us that although the council has that rule it does not use it, so we are talking of only one district council. It is inappropriate for the Minister to take up the time of the House to impose extra burdens on local authorities for the sake of one erring district authority. The legislation is unnecessary. Local authorities have had many financial burdens placed upon them by the Government, and they are now imposing further burdens on them. They are also taking away further rights from them. In the first instance the Minister could perhaps send a circular to local authorities saying that that is not the way to proceed. If the practice continues, further action could be taken. New clause 6 relates to the problem of rural housing and the sale of council houses in rural authorities. The hon. Member for Argyll (Mr. MacKay) is now on the Front Bench. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] The hon. Gentleman is in his honeymoon period. He will learn that that does not last for long. His hon. Friends will soon not say "Hear, hear" when his name is mentioned. The hon. Gentleman was on the Back Benches in the Committee on the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Bill. Mr. Home Robertson Quietly. Mr. Maxton Government Back Benchers tend to be quiet during debates on Scottish Bills, except when their constituency interests are involved. The hon. Gentleman was vocal about the sale of council houses in rural, and particularly holiday, areas. He will now presumably agree with his hon. Friend the Member for Renfrewshire, East (Mr. Stewart). The hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Pollock) will soon be on the Front Bench. With the exception of the hon. Member for Bute and North Ayrshire (Mr. Corrie), who made a mistake, the quickest route to promotion is through being PPS to the Secretary of State. Mr. Home Robertson I have checked the Official Report of the Committee debate on this clause. The hon. Member for Argyll (Mr. MacKay) did not even hiccup or say "Hear, hear". My hon. Friend was being unduly flattering to him. Mr. Maxton I am talking about the debates two and a half years ago, and not the Committee on this Bill. Many district councils are Conservative-controlled and have few council houses. Council houses are needed to keep the indigenous population in the area. They should not be sold to holidaymakers or commuters who do not take part in the local economy or social life. Many of them even purchase their goods and provisions outside the area. I apologise to the hon. Member for Bute and North Ayrshire for mentioning his constituency, but I rent a holiday house on the Isle of Arran. In small villages in holiday areas attractive council houses could be a bargain for people seeking holiday homes. In Blackwaterfoot there is a line of pensioners' houses. That links in with clause 9. They are 1 mile from the beach and from the golf course and tennis courts. They would be ideal for a couple as a holiday house. A sitting tenant could purchase a house which could later be sold by his successors to a holidaymaker. In the area, three-bedroom houses sell for £30,000, which is beyond the reach of the normal worker. It is almost impossible for him to purchase a house. Most are seasonal workers, who earn good money in the summer and are unemployed in the winter. It is almost impossible for them to get mortgages. As the farm cottages disappear, perhaps to holidaymakers, local people are increasingly reliant for housing on the district council. If it cannot provide for them, they move to the cities and towns. That may not yet be happening. Most people who have purchased their houses have not owned them for five years, so the discount has not worked through. After five years people who have bought at a large discount will have the opportunity to make a large profit. That is when the difficulties will start, particularly in rural areas. New clause 9 touches on a matter that is very much a problem in Glasgow. The concession given for disabled peoples' housing will affect almost none of the housing in Glasgow. In essence, with the exception of a few specifically purpose-built sheltered houses, most of it is not covered by the Government's concession. The new clause will ensure that housing built specifically for the disabled and elderly will be used for that purpose. 7.30 pm I know that my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan) have at their surgeries, week in and week out, as I do, old people with serious ailments who are living in three-storey flats. Their families have moved away and the accommodation is too big for them. A variety of housing problems are brought to me and my right hon. and hon. Friends. Elderly people seek a transfer, not to a house that is designed for the physically handicapped in the sense that they are in wheelchairs or so ill as to need regular nursing or supervision, but to one in which they can feel more protected and among people of their own age group, and so on. Under existing legislation the stock of suitable housing will be eroded, because the right to purchase such houses remains on the statute book. Two-room housing suitable for elderly people can be sold off, and although I do not know how many have been sold, that can be done under this legislation. I congratulate my hon. friends on tabling the new clause, which will at least allow local authorities to stop the sale of such property and give the elderly and disabled some sort of hope that eventually they will get the housing that they require. The new clause also gives back to local authorities what they should have above all else, which is the social right to decide priorities in one small but essential part of their housing stock. This is an area where they work closely with other local government agencies. The decision is not made by the local council alone. The social welfare department is also involved. Most of my right hon. and hon. friends would like to see the responsibility for council house allocations and sales returned to local authorities. If we cannot have that, at least let us have it for housing that is suitable for the disabled and the elderly. Mr. Robert Hughes (Aberdeen, North) I confine my remarks to new clause 9, dealing with special purpose houses for the handicapped and pensioners' houses. Whatever else may be said about the sale of council houses, it cannot be right to take houses from the local authorities' pool to rehouse needy tenants. The case for retaining special houses for special needs is irrefutable. I am sure that every hon. Member is faced with people in his surgery who are desperate to get moved from three, four or five flatted accommodation, or a house that is far too big for their needs, into a house more suitably adapted for their needs. Because there is a tremendous shortage of such houses, it is difficult to move those people. People visit me on a Saturday morning having gone through all the procedures of the local authority. They have seen the housing visitor, visited the housing office, seen the local councillor, written to the housing manager, asked to see the housing manager—more often than not he has refused to see them—and having exhausted every other avenue they come to see me under the mistaken impression that their Member of Parliament has the power to direct the local authority to rehouse them. It is difficult to explain that the role of the local authority in the allocation of housing is paramount—to use a phrase on everyone's lips in a different context—and that no one can interfere with the way in which local authorities conduct their business. They find that difficult to accept. They seldom voice their feelings, but I feel that they are leaving with the impression "This fellow is a waste of damn time. He is not trying to help at all." Mr. Russell Johnston (Inverness) Quite right. Mr. Hughes The hon. Member for Inverness (Mr. Johnston has returned from his perambulations abroad, at least for the moment. I shall leave his aside, because I am sure that it was meant as a joke, even though misplaced. We all do our best to help our constituents. Some constituents have better cases than others. People with serious heart complaints may have been waiting for a long time for a house, but when there is a dispute between the local authority and the general practitioners about issuing medical certificates—a problem which I hope shortly will be resolved—it is extremely difficult for the local authority properly to allocate houses for special need. This leaves us in serious doubt about Government policy. Even when the Government concede—which is not often—that a house sold by a local authority is a house out of the pool, they do not concede that it is a house taken out of the reach of the elderly or handicapped who are not financially able to purchase, even at discount prices. The aim has always been for the local authority to supply houses to those in greatest need. It is strange that the Government should be prepared to see houses with special features, or houses that can apply to people with special needs, made available to those with enough money to buy them. That disturbs the whole policy and priorities of the local authority house building programme. In the Government's saner and more honest moments they may concede that argument, but their alibi is that the position is not serious because the local authority can provide more houses. That is twisted logic, but let us take it at its face value. For every house suitable for special need that is sold, there is a requirement for the local authority to provide an equivalent house for those who are not able to buy. But local authorities have to build many more special purpose houses than they do now. I have the greatest sympathy for local authorities that are trying to establish a priority in their building programme. There are people who are homeless and people who are technically homeless in that they are living with their in-laws or in some sort of sub-letted accommodation. In addition, people are living in overcrowded accommodation, people whose health makes it necessary for them to be housed. Then there are the elderly. There are the middle aged who are living in houses which were big enough to satisfy the size of their family but when the children leave home the house becomes far too big and they need smaller accommodation. People are living in houses that were built before the war and which have severe dampness problems. I shall not go too far into the question of defining dampness. The only criticism I make of local authority housing officials is that often the dampness complained of by tenants is thought by the officers to be condensation. However, there are families living in houses that badly need modernisation. The best way to modernise them would be to rehouse those tenants in accommodation of a more suitable size and make the newly renovated houses available to families that are large enough to suit their size. It is therefore difficult to determine priorities. There can be no doubt that in terms of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act the Government are abusing their power. I recently received a letter from an organisation stating that in its view the Government ought to be more helpful to local authorities in order to provide special purpose housing especially for the physically handicapped. The Under-Secretary had hardly got as far as reading the pile of bumf in his second new job since he left the Back Benches when he was signing letters. He wrote to me saying that he had no sympathy with the problems of Aberdeen district council, because the way it could get money to provide more special purpose housing was to sell its quota of local authority houses. I defy the Under-Secretary to say where in statute there is power for the Government to fix a quota for a local authority to sell so many houses a year. There is no such power in statute. Ten years ago I became a Member of this House with the rather innocent belief that Ministers had power to operate only if statute permitted them to do so. The principle enshrined in every book on constitutional law was that Ministers cannot act ultra vires except when it is laid down in statute. Yet this Government are saying on a purely arbitrary' basis that Aberdeen district council, Dundee district council, Edinburgh district council, Glasgow district council and so on must sell X number of houses and that if they do not they will hold back the money required to build special purpose houses or houses for the elderly or physically handicapped. That is an abuse of power, and it ought not to be tolerated. The Government are simply saying that the only way in which sufficient housing can be provided for the elderly, and the only way in which local authorities can get the money to replace those houses taken out of the stock and sold to elderly or handicapped people, is to sell even more local authority houses. Had the Government any concern whatever for the disabled, they would above all else make sure that the local authorities had sufficient finance to enable them to provide for their needs. Under the Government's own proposals, each authority must lay before the Secretary of State its housing plans for five years hence. Had the Government sufficient concern for the disabled, they would be making enough money available for local authorities to provide these special purpose houses. The Government could at least do two things. First, they could say that when a house is sold they will provide sufficient money to replace it. That would be minimal, and it falls far short of what I should like to see. Alternatively, they could allow local authorities to specify a whole range of housing in different areas that would be available for special need. We know that the Government have a fixation about local authorities. We know that they operate in the belief that on every occasion local authorities are trying to do the Government down and are trying to find a loophole in the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act. Mr. Maxton They are paranoid. Mr. Hughes That does not wash, because the Government have sufficient safeguards in their hands. If a local authority which had previously provided only 1 per cent. of its housing stock for the elderly and the handicapped suddenly produced a range of housing that represented 50 per cent. of its housing stock, that would be clear evidence of abuse. As my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) said, the way in which the Government are paranoid about local authorities is beyond belief. On every occasion they say that local authorities cannot be trusted. I believe that the opposite is the case. The local authorities can be trusted. It is absolutely scandalous that the Government should use administrative discretion to make capital allocations in the housing sector. They ought not to behave in that way. 7.45 pm If that were the only way in which the Government were bypassing their powers, we would have one target on which to focus. However, they are so obsessed with selling local authority houses that they do not care what happens to the priorities of local authorities. Local authorities must try to modernise a housing stock part of which was built pre-war and part of which was built immediately post-war. Quite apart from the fact that the standards of regulation then were nowhere near what they are now, the main priority at that time was to supply a number of units. In many respects, the standard had to wait. Therefore, at present many local authorities are busily trying to modernise old houses in which people have been living for 20, 30 or even 40 years. Given the way in which the Government have steadily escalated rents, many of those people feel that they are entitled to a little bit more comfort. The Government are saying that even a newly modernised house can be sold. If a local authority decides that a row of houses requires modernisation, spends thousands of pounds on that modernisation and as soon as renovations are carried out the tenants say "I will exercise my right to buy", the Government are not even giving protection there. It is quite wrong that local authorities should be forced into trying to extract a guarantee that if the houses are renovated the tenants will not exercise their right to buy. In fact, the local authority has no right to exact such a promise from the tenant. As a result, some local authorities have said "We will move you out of this old house and put you in another house, perhaps slightly better but not completely modernised, but once your old house has been modernised you will not get back into it. We will put in a tenant who does not have an existing right to buy". That is causing all kinds of difficulties in the allocation of local authority housing. I return to the specific point about special purpose housing. As I understand it, at present, unless a house is on an exclusion list—my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) earlier gave figures for the number of houses that had been excluded—[HON. MEMBERS: "They are all in Aberdeen."] That is possibly because under wise heads in the past the Aberdeen town council provided a fairly substantial programme of specially adapted houses. I shall not weary the House with the kind of housing that is provided, or with the far-sightedness of the local authority in trying to weld together the elderly, the disabled and those in sheltered housing. If I were to do that, some hon. Members might think that I was being slightly immodest. Most local authorities in Scotland try to operate fairness in their allocation programme by having a points system to allow the allocation to be as fair as possible. As soon as a house is provided on the basis of points and some one moves in, that person can exercise the right to buy. As I understand it, they do not have to be in a special purpose house for a number of years to be able to exercise the right to buy. If they have been in another local authority house for sufficient time to meet the general conditions of qualifying to exercise the right to buy the day after moving in to the new specially adapted house, it is not excluded and they can exercise their right to buy. Local authorities should have some guarantee against that. We are saying that people are entitled to a special purpose house because of need, but we are also saying that if they have enough money to buy it then they can do so and take the right away from someone less financially able to buy themselves. That cannot be right. It cannot be a policy that suits the needs of disabled people. The problem is perhaps manageable if a local authority has carried out a large programme of specially adapted houses. However, often local authorities, especially when dealing with the elderly, produce houses that may be suitable for the elderly but may also be suitable for the young as well. They may be suitable for the handicapped and suitable for the unhandicapped as well. I know with certainty that within my constituency sons and daughters are putting up the money for their elderly relatives to buy a special purpose house or a house that is particularly, because of its size, suitable for the elderly, for the sole purpose of investment. It is not the pensioner who is buying his or her existing house. The family is buying it so that they can inherit it when the old couple pass on. Mr. Maxton I have heard of worse cases than that. Property speculators purchase houses for old people on the understanding that they will get them when the old people die. Mr. Hughes I have not heard of that in my constituency. However, if my hon. Friend has specific examples of that, they ought to be reported immediately to the Secretary of State. I do not know what recourse the Secretary of State has. He would probably approve of it. Mr. Home Robertson He is probably doing it. Mr. Hughes However, I suspect that there is nothing that the Secretary of State can do. If it is not a genuine purchase, under the law he would have a case to take to court. Both the Secretary of State and my hon. Friend the Member for Cathcart might like to know that in my constituency a property speculating company has made an offer to the Aberdeen district council to buy the whole housing stock. Fortunately, that property company does not have the brains of a donkey, because if it had it would never have approached the council. I believe that even the Tories on the Aberdeen district council would be opposed to this. Certainly the Labour-controlled council is implacably opposed to it. Perhaps the Secretary of State would tell us what would happen if a property speculating company were to go to a Tory-controlled authority and offer to buy the whole housing stock. Would the authority be willing to sell? I assume that it would be permissible under the law. Either it was a particularly stupid property speculating company, which did not realise that it would not be allowed to buy in those circumstances, or it checked the small print in the law and found a loophole. It would be scandalous if a property speculating company were able to find a loophole in the law that would allow it to take a large number of houses for pensioners and the disabled out of the market. What a boon that would be to the property speculators, and what a disastrous result that would have for the elderly. The people who have the know-how, the policies and the understanding of the local situation to determine the priorities in housing needs are the local authorities. That is not to say that I do not have my quarrels from time to time with local authorities or that from time to time on individual cases I do not have to write rather hard letters, even to the Aberdeen council, about individual allocation policies. However, very few councils have not done their best to provide for housing needs. Some authorities have, by the prudent exercise of their finances and flexibility of housing use, provided houses that can be used either by a pensioner couple or by a childless young couple. It would be sad if, because those houses are available for a more general use than that of specially adapted housing for the elderly and pensioners, they were taken out of whatever limited exclusions the Government have in their legislation. There is no doubt that the tenants' rights Act, as time goes by, will be seen to be working in almost every sense against the needs of those who are desperate for housing and do not have the wherewithal to buy their own. Even if the Government were to carry their convictions to the extent of providing a tenants' rights Act dealing with people who lived in private rented accommodation—there is no question of their going that far—I should still oppose them in selling local authority houses out of stock. I hope that the Government will accept new clause 5. It will go as far as we can expect the Government to go. It will not answer the problems in our constituencies but it will be a big help and go part of the way. The Minister is in a new job that he was suddenly slung into after three weeks in another job. He was not in his previous Department long enough to make a name for himself. This evening he can make the name that he sought to make for himself on the Back Benches, as someone of an independent mind in examining problems, and as someone who is not hidebound by dogma. He can show himself as someone who is able to act like that if he will accept the new clause. Mr. Foulkes The Secretary of State for Scotland is my Member of Parliament and star of the cartoon strip in the Sunday Standard, to which we all look forward eagerly, none more so than the right hon. Gentleman, no doubt. At the outset I shall say that I intend to be mercifully brief. The tenants' rights legislation is born out of the doctrinaire attitude of Conservative Members and out of a misunderstanding of the situation, particularly in large urban authorities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and perhaps Dundee and Renfrew, including Paisley. It is creating monstrous problems in rural areas, as my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) said, and will create many more. 8 pm My hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian and I are unusual among Scottish Members. Now that we have lost the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) to another tendency, we are the only two Labour Scottish Members who represent rural constituencies. Mr. Home Robertson My hon. Friend is being less than fair to my right hon. Friend the Member for Lanark (Dame Judith Hart), and also to my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan). Mr. Foulkes Inadvertently, I know not why, I had forgotten my right hon. Friend the Member for Lanark (Dame Judith Hart). I travel through her constituency regularly as I drive up the A70, and I know that it is a rural area. My hon. Friends the Members for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire (Mr. O'Neill) and West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) have rural areas, but basically they represent the broad central belt, which we never think of as rural. Mr. Maxton The large country estates of the Secretary of State for Scotland happen to be in the constituency of our hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan). The Deputy Speaker Order. The hon. Gentleman said that he wanted to be brief. He should come back to new clause 1. Mr. Foulkes I am being brief; it is the interventions that are long. So far, I have said very little. I am concerned about the effects of the legislation on rural areas. My hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian gave a number of examples. I have great respect for the Minister who, even in his two weeks, has written me some helpful letters. He has written some unhelpful ones too, but he tries hard, as they used to say on the old school reports. I ask him seriously to consider the situation in holiday areas like Dunure Maidens—a place that the Secretary of State will know, because it is not far from his constituency—or Kirkmichael, or Straiton. They are delightful holiday areas where many people have private holiday cottages. People have grown up there, gone to school, gone to work in the few factories that still exist there, and then grown old there. From my work with Age Concern I know that it is desirable to keep people in their own areas as they grow old, the environment to which they are accustomed. What has happened and is happening increasingly is that the small and attractive local authority houses in those areas are being purchased and then sold to people who come from outwith the area. There is no longer the local authority stock of housing, for people to change from one type of house to another as they move through their life cycle in these country and seaside villages. The Bill represents a serious distortion of the way of life of these villages. Conservative Members do not understand that. I hope that they will give some thought to what is happening. It is possible that the new clause may not be the best way to deal with the matter, but I hope that the Government will find a way to consider the special needs of rural areas. My second point concerns special houses for the elderly and disabled. I worked for six years with Age Concern in Scotland. One of the things that worried us was the development of special housing for the elderly—sheltered housing, amenity housing, adaptations to existing houses, taking two or three apartment houses and adapting them to make them suitable for the elderly and disabled, linking a group of flats or houses to an electronic alarm system so that they are linked to a warden in another house. They are not custom-built for the needs of the elderly. The Secretary of State is usually a very affable person, except when dealing with local authorities. We see the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde character. On many occasions I see him smiling and affable and agreeable, but when it comes to the letter of the law, and putting things into the necessary legal provisions, we see the Mr. Hyde—not the Dr. Jekyll that we see when we meet him. I ask for just a little of the Dr. Jekyll for the elderly and the disabled. I hope that the Secretary of State will not limit houses for the disabled and elderly as narrowly as he has done, because that will create problems. Both in rural areas and in the cities, people like to live in the environment to which they have become accustomed. Many old people die prematurely because they are moved out of the area in which they have grown up and in which their friends live, and into an area to which they are not accustomed. As a result, they die well before their normal life span. It is therefore important to have sheltered housing, special housing, adapted housing and housing of every kind for elderly and disabled people in the community. That will not happen with the limited number of exemptions that the Secretary of State has proposed. It is ironic that Aberdeen is one of the authorities with a higher number of exemptions. It is an accident of history. It creates a severe anomaly. In Age Concern we spoke of Aberdeen as an example to other authorities, in an endeavour to encourage them to provide purpose-built housing. Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire provided more special purpose-built sheltered housing than any other local authority. Other authorities are catching up. Other authorities, because they do not have Aberdeen's long tradition of providing purpose-built sheltered housing, did the best that they could by adapting existing houses, by linking them together, and thus providing a perfectly adequate and reasonable system of sheltered housing, amenity housing and other houses for old people. Those are not exempt. That is one of the accidents of history that is highlighted by the way in which the Secretary of State has drawn this clause so tightly. My hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hughes) tugged on our heartstrings and those of the Minister to try to get him to concede something. If the Minister were to concede too quickly, he would not remain on the Front Bench for long. He would be back in his old position. Perhaps the hon. Member for Bute and North Ayrshire (Mr. Corrie) is encouraging him to concede so that he can move in. I hope that the Under-Secretary of State will give this matter some serious consideration. He must concede that he has received several representations on this issue from non-political organisations concerned with the elderly. They are not opposing for the sake of opposition. They are concerned about the narrowness of this clause and the problems which it will create for old and disabled people in the future. As usual, my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) so eloquently anticipated many of the good points that I would like to make. I would like to reiterate the innappropriateness of the Lands Tribunal for the job that the Secretary of State is setting it. My hon. Friend described its membership. It comprises a judge and a couple of quantity surveyors—there are plenty of those; grab two of them and put them on the Lands Tribunal. It also includes a lawyer—there are even more of those around looking for work. My hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) will confirm that. The Lands Tribunal is an ad hoc body, given the responsibility which should properly be that of an elected body. It is usurping the powers of the elected local authorities. We have attacked the Government, and will be attacking them on amendment No. 1, for the way in which they are undermining the autonomy of local authorities. They are undermining local democracy. I look forward to taking part in that debate and making a somewhat longer speech than this brief intervention. The Lands Tribunal is an entirely inappropriate body. I suspect that the Secretary of State wanted some body to take on the responsibility of the local authorities that he considered to be defaulting and looked down the list of quangos that he has not done away with—— Mr. Home Robertson Does my hon. Friend know which authority is used to implement the parallel part of the legislation covering council house sales in England? If he does not know, perhaps the Secretary of State can enlighten us. Mr. Foulkes I certainly do not know the English body. Perhaps the vast resources of the Conservative Party will come forward with the English body. I am sure that when the Secretary of State looked down the list of quangos that have not suffered from the actions of the hon. Member for Carlton (Mr. Holland) he came across the Lands Tribunal. Perhaps he thought that that would be an appropriate body because houses are built on land. However, it is entirely inappropriate that such a body should be dealing with matters which are properly the purview of the local elected council. They are the people who know the area, the local conditions and who understand the local people and demands. They can make decisions in the light of the local situation. 8.15 pm I do not know whether my hon. Friends have noticed, as I have, that the fact that some people have bought their houses and others have not is becoming divisive within communities. It is like the one or two people who send their children to private schools. Unfortunately, I cannot talk about new clause 5. When I arrived today I felt a bit like one of the tenants applying for a council house. I found that my name was not on the list, and I could not find out why. I can understand why the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Sir R. Fairgrieve) got on the list. He has a large number of points for being elderly and disabled. I could not understand why I was not on the list. However, I understand the problem of tenants. When some people are able to buy their houses and some, through no fault of their own, are not, society is divided. It has increasingly become the case that people in good and secure employment are able to buy their houses. People who are unemployed—there are an increasing number of those—have no prospect of doing so. People on rent and rate rebates—the poor in society—are being further stigmatised because of their inability to buy their houses. This Act that the Government have willed upon Scotland is becoming extremely divisive within society. Now that my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North is not with us, I can say without fear of contradiction that the Government have no mandate to introduce this legislation in Scotland. I heard one of the hon. Members who represents the Scottish National Party in this Chamber say that we are not using that argument. I hope that he will get it right. I am one of the people who constantly uses that argument. The Government have no mandate in Scotland for the Scottish legislation that they are bringing through. If we had a Scottish Assembly, as was proposed by the previous Government—many of the people who proposed it in the last Parliament are now having second thoughts—we would not have had the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act, the Education (Scotland) Act or many other Acts which are plaguing the Scottish people at the moment. Mr. Gordon Wilson The hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes) says that he has used the Scottish mandate argument, and is using it today. Why is it that his party collectively refuses to use that argument? Mr. Foulkes It is not unknown for my party collectively not to use the same arguments as I do. I was in step on that issue for a long time, but I have been out of step on other issues—for example, the current problem concerning the Falkland Islands. Mr. Deputy Speaker Order. I allowed the hon. Gentleman to reply to the intervention, but we must return to clause 1. Mr. Foulkes I am glad that you said that, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I shall have another opportunity to reply to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson). He recently paid a visit to my constituency and did not tell me. That is another matter that I have to take up with him, but that would be out of order as well. The hon. Gentleman is now telling me that he did not know that he was in my constituency—so much for his geography. If the Government were intent on improving housing in Scotland instead of spending the time as they have done before on the tenants' rights Bill, they would have come forward with some positive legislation for Scotland. I do not know if it is the official policy of my party, but I would like to see some encouragement for imaginative tenant management schemes within local authorities. I would not object to the suggestion that local authorities should be encouraged to build houses for sale to satisfy the market rather than private developers and rather than selling off houses. Mr. Maxton The last Government set up a body called the tenant participatory service in Glasgow which is working in the field of tenant co-operation. It is under the constant worry that the Government will cut its funds completely. Its funds have already been reduced. Mr. Foulkes That is right. There are imaginative embryonic schemes. If we get nothing else out of this debate, I hope that the new Minister—a new broom sweeping clean—will assure us that he will give some impetus to tenant management schemes. I hope that we shall see some positive encouragement of the development of local authority housing because it needs improvement. I accept that not every local authority, whether Conservative or Labour-controlled, has an ideal tenant and housing allocation. Certainly house maintenance is not ideal. Instead of positive encouragement from the Government we get negative suggestions and doctrinaire proposals. We must completely reject that, and I hope that as many hon. Members as possible will troop into the Lobby tonight in support of the amendments put forward so imaginatively by my hon. Friends. Mr. Allan Stewart We have had an interesting debate on a variety of topics in relation to the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980. The hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) began by waxing wrathful and expressing the indignation of Scottish local authorities and Scottish people about the Act. All the evidence is that the tenants' rights legislation is extremely popular. Opinion polls suggest that even among Labour voters the overwhelming majority entirely agree with and support the concept of the sale of council houses to sitting tenants. We had some indignation at the beginning of the debate and a call for imagination from the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes) at the end. I agree with that call. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he was responsible for home affairs at the Scottish Office, visited an important new tenant management innovation in Glasgow. Whatever else one may say about Glasgow district, hon. Members would probably agree that it has been imaginative recently in its approach to some housing problems. We need imagination and we must get away from the blanket approach of the past. Mr. Maxton What the Minister is saying is correct and I am glad to see that he admits that, for co-operative tenancies, Glasgow is the best in Scotland. However, it is increasingly difficult to get tenants to agree to join co-operatives in Glasgow, especially if they are required to enter older housing. The money is not available to bring the properties up to the standards that the tenants wish to have before they will join a co-operative organisation. Mr. Stewart I shall say something about resources later, but the fact is that those schemes are going ahead. The homesteading scheme at Glenelg quadrant in Glasgow is another imaginative scheme. The hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) and other hon. Members asked me what charges the Government are talking about in new clause 1. I referred to the charges, but perhaps I can repeat what I said. First, we are talking about charging a tenant who wishes to submit an application form a deposit which is not returned to him if he decides not to buy. Secondly, we are talking about imposing a penalty charge on a tenant who puts in an application form but eventually decides not to buy. I hope that that definition is clear. I was not sure whether Labour Members were generally in favour of those charges. It was clear from the speech of the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson) that he was not. However, this will affect only a small number of authorities, although other authorities might follow. The Government must deal with a potential problem as well as an actual one. The analogy of the hon. Member for Cathcart with the private sector was not at all apt. In the sale of a council house to a sitting tenant the purchaser pays his own costs, as happens in the private sector. The point about a deposit in the private sector is that if someone then pulls out of the purchase the seller could, in principle, have sold the house to someone else. That does not apply to the sale of a local authority house to a sitting tenant. The hon. Member for Dundee, East also asked me whether a tenant who is subject to those charges can go to the Lands Tribunal on appeal. He does not have that right of appeal. He could challenge the decision in the sheriff court, but that would be a difficult procedure for a tenant to undertake. New clause 6 is one of the clauses to which the Opposition attach particular importance. I do not wish to labour the point about Renfrew district with the hon. Member for Renfrewshire, West (Mr. Buchan), but the Secretary of State sets gross capital allocations, and the money spent by Renfrew district in 1981–82 was below £1 million. I do not know the explanation for that, nor does the hon. Gentleman. The issue was debated extensively when Parliament considered the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Bill 1980. The onus is now on the Opposition to prove that problems have arisen in practice with which existing legislation is inadequate to deal. We have received no representations that provide evidence of general problems either with sales in rural areas or with second homes. The figures quoted by the hon. Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson), which showed, not surprisingly, that percentage sales in different areas varied, do not in themselves suggest that there is a serious problem. The Government's point is that there is no case for the exclusion of rural houses from the right to buy because, as in non-rural areas, sales do not alter the balance between the available housing stock and the number of people looking for houses. Council houses being sold would not normally be available for reletting to those on waiting lists for many years. The only possible problem is that of the second home, because the balance of supply and demand is altered only if former council houses are resold for use as second homes. Mr. Home Robertson I apologise for interrupting the Minister, who is reading his brief very well. However, he is trying to skate round a serious point that both I and many of my hon. Friends have made, which is that once a house has been sold to a sitting tenant in an area where only small groups of council houses are available, it has to all intents and purposes been lost to the local community for all time, because those on low incomes cannot afford to buy. Therefore, young people especially will find it difficult to buy their first homes. I have given the Minister evidence from my constituency. I know that the Government have had representations, for example from the National Farmers Union of Scotland, so the Minister cannot deny that there have been representations about this real problem. Mr. Stewart I must point out to the hon. Gentleman the simple fact that the house is not lost to the housing stock in that area unless it becomes a second home. Mr. Gordon Wilson rose—— Mr. Stewart I have given way many times, and I now wish to continue. The evidence is against the existence of a growing number of second homes in Scotland. Hon Members will know of the study completed in 1977, which suggested that there would be no net growth in the number of second homes in Scotland. Thus, special restrictions should be available to local authorities only where there is evidence of a —— 8.30 pm Mr. Buchan The hon. Member has just made a monstrous statement about rural areas. The point is not just the question of the second home; there is also the question of the commuter and of the retired man. The effect is to cut down the amount of public housing for people who live and work within the rural community and within the rural economy. By definition, that is what is happening. We have areas where one person at work can make a significant difference to a small village. By the same token, the loss of one house can result in 10 per cent. of the total housing stock being sterilised. The hon. Gentleman really cannot get away with that. Mr. Stewart The point that I am making is a very simple one—— Mr. Buchan Simple-minded. Mr. Stewart The house remains part of the housing stock for people who live in the area. It does not do so only if it is used as a second home. That is bound to be the case, and so the problem to which we have to address ourselves is that of second homes. That is dealt with the legislation. The Secretary of State can make a pre-emption order where more than one-third of the houses have been sold and an unreasonable proportion have been resold and are not being used as the only or principal home of the owner. Those provisions were introduced on the initiative of my hon. Friend the Member for Galloway (Mr. Lang), who has a close knowledge of the problems in rural areas. They represent a perfectly reasonable set of safeguards to deal with the potential second home problem. Hon. Members have produced no evidence to suggest that the safeguards are not adequate. We have received no evidence from any district council on this matter. Mr. Dewar There is a good deal of anxiety among district councils. From correspondence that I have heard of, through Shelter, for example, I know that, if asked, district councils will express their anxiety. The Minister says that the situation in Scotland is satisfactory, but can he explain why a completely different conclusion was reached by the Department of the Environment in England, where I should have thought the threats and the pressures would be considerably less than in, for example, rural Highland areas? Mr. Stewart That is because conditions in England are different. I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman should suggest that we in Scotland should reach identical conclusions just because of conditions in England. There is no right of pre-emption in England, although he suggested that there was. The restriction in England is on resale to people living in a specified area. Mr. Home Robertson Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Mr. Stewart No. I must move on. I have already given way to the hon. Gentleman. I come to new clause 9. The answer to the general point made by a number of hon. Members is that it is simply not true that the Opposition discovered that the amendment Act was not identical to the 1980 Act and that that came as a bolt out of the blue. The whole debate on the amendment Act concentrated on the differences in drafting. Mr. Dewar Surely the Under-Secretary accepts that although the Opposition rightly expressed anxiety about the drafting, the bolt from the blue, which was concealed by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind), was the fact that exemption would be confined to such a narrow category as that recorded as amenity housing in the Scottish housing statistics. On examination, that turned out to be a non-existent category in most centres of population. That was an exercise in deception by Ministers, and the Under-Secretary ought to face the sins of his predecessors. Mr. Stewart I repudiate the suggestion that there was any deception. I recall that the debates were extensive and concentrated on this area. On new clause 9, the onus is on the Opposition to demonstrate that the operation of the right to buy has produced clear evidence that the Act is unsatisfactory. The hon. Member for South Ayrshire referred to the concern of organisations representing the elderly and I accept what he says, but we have received no representations from CoSLA on that point since the amendment Act came into effect. The evidence of the small number of applications to the Secretary of State under section 3A suggests that the large-scale sale of sub-amenity houses for the elderly is not a danger. Mr. Foulkes Does not the Under-Secretary realise that the reason why he is not getting representations from CoSLA is that the convention has so often made representations to which the Under-Secretary and his predecessors have paid no attention that it is getting fed up with wasting its time in making representations? The voluntary organisations, perhaps because they have a little more enthusiasm, faith and hope, have continued to make representations. Will the hon. Gentleman do something to give those organisations some encouragement for the faith and hope that they have shown in him? Mr. Stewart I assure the hon. Gentleman that CoSLA has not given up making representations to the Government. It rightly makes many representations on a wide range of issues. I do not accept the hon. Gentleman's argument. The legislation differs between Scotland and England and Wales, but we do not have to follow slavishly what is done in England and Wales. Scottish legislation should be tailored to Scottish circumstances. The existing Scottish provisions were thoroughly debated and a number of amendments were considered. Mr. Robert Hughes I never thought that I would hear the hon. Gentleman expressing Scottish nationalist sentiments. He suggests that because Scottish law is different, it must always be different. We are asking for an intelligent use of the law to suit Scottish circumstances. If the Scottish law provides less protection than the English law, we ought to put it right. Mr. Stewart I was not sounding like a Scottish nationalist. Just because something is done in England and Wales, it does not necessarily have to be done in the same way in Scotland. What we do in Scotland must be tailored, first, to Scottish legislation and, secondly, to Scottish circumstances, and that is what the Government did in the amendment Act. Mr. Home Robertson Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Mr. Stewart No. Mr. Home Robertson This is discrimination. Mr. Stewart I have already given way to the hon. Gentleman both in my opening remarks and in my reply. Hon. Members are aware of the existing Scottish provisions, but it might be worth reminding the House of them. First, sheltered housing for the elderly and disabled is automatically excluded—a point which was not made by Opposition Members. Mr. Foulkes Yes it was. Mr. Stewart I apologise. The hon. Member for South Ayrshire mentioned it. Sheltered housing for the elderly and disabled is defined as a property that is one of a group and has specially designed or adapted facilities, which must include a call system and a warden system. Secondly, amenity housing for the elderly is excluded from the right to buy, subject to the Secretary of State's verification of the facts. We are talking mainly about amenity housing for the elderly. Some houses for the elderly cannot be conveniently categorised. They are defined as specially designed or adapted and as having facilities that are substantially different from those of an ordinary house. Thirdly, there is pre-emption for non-sheltered housing for the disabled. That is the position under the amendment Act. The broad argument for the Scottish provisions is that houses should be excluded from the right to buy only where the community's interest in retaining them is so exceptionally strong that it overrides the claim of the tenant to the same rights as other tenants. The Scottish categories of sheltered and amenity housing reflect well-understood categories that are not used in England. Those distinctions are an appropriate basis for the policy that has been pursued in Scotland by successive Governments since 1975 towards special provision for the elderly. If it has been pursued in relation—— Mr. Foulkes Will the Minister give way? Mr. Stewart I shall finish this point and then give way. Mr. Home Robertson What is wrong with me? Mr. Stewart I have already given way to the hon. Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson). If those distinctions are an appropriate basis for the policy pursued in Scotland by successive Governments since 1975 towards special provision for the elderly, it is reasonable to argue that they are also an appropriate basis for the policy on which houses need to be retained in public ownership. I shall give way to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire. Mr. Home Robertson This is discrimination against the aristocracy! Mr. Foulkes The Minister described the responsibility of balancing the needs of the community with the needs of the individual tenant. Is not the most appropriate body to make the decision about balancing the needs of the community and of the individual tenant the local authority in the area concerned? Mr. Stewart In relation to the provisions in the Act, it is up to Parliament to lay down the legislative framework. The disabled should not be doubly disadvantaged by not having the right to buy that other tenants have. Scotland's larger public sector tips the balance of the argument between the tenant and the community in the tenant's favour. The tenant's claim for equity with all other tenants is stronger than the case for the elderly, because many disabled people are young, have families, and are in employment. In other words, it is only their disability that distinguishes them from ordinary tenants. It would be wrong to make them victims of a double disadvantage by discriminating against them over the right to buy. Scotland's larger public sector housing stock—— Mr. McKelvey I am baffled by the Minister's logic. He has managed to stand the case on its head. If an adequate number of houses were provided for the disabled in Scotland, no one would have the objections that the Opposition are voicing. Grossly inadequate numbers of houses are available for the disabled. If those houses are sold and taken from the pool some other disabled person will be grossly disadvantaged. Those are the points that we are making. Mr. Stewart We are giving high priority in housing policy to special needs, including the needs of the disabled. The key point that I am making is about the rights of the disabled tenant. There is no good argument for giving the disabled tenant the double disadvantage of depriving him or her of the right to buy, which all other tenants have. Scotland's larger public sector housing stock makes the sale of individual houses less significant to the community interest than is the case in England and Wales. That is the basic argument. That is why the balance of the argument is somewhat different in Scotland from that in England and Wales. Secondly, the Opposition have not produced the decisive evidence that would be necessary to justify asking Parliament to change its mind. The case for clause 47 is straightforward. If a tenant is driven to go to the Lands Tribunal by a landlord not carrying out its statutory duty, it is only just that the tenant should not be worse off than if the landlord had carried out its duty to consider using the discretions. 8.45 pm The hon. Member for Cathcart and the hon. Member for South Ayrshire questioned the validity of the Lands Tribunal and whether it is appropriate to the job. It does a quasi-judicial job. It is not a major administrative job, and the tribunal has exercised its functions effectively. One would expect the number of cases going to the Lands Tribunal to fall rather than increase as precedents are established. If the tribunal is to act in the place of the landlord in those limited circumstances, it must have all the powers of the landlord. That was the intended effect of the legislation as drafted, but the tribunal has said that it does not have sufficient power to exercise discretion. The Government, therefore, are making the position clear through the amendments. Mr. Dewar I am grateful to the Minister for inviting me to take part. What discretions will be exercised? That has not been dealt with. That is why I was anxious to speak at the start of the debate. There is a genuine distinction between a lands tribunal that is a quasi-judicial body being invited to take over the nuts and bolts of the conveyancing transaction and a lands tribunal being invited to exercise what is, in effect, a quasi-political discretion. The latter would normally be left to a directly elected body. It is hard to know what criteria it should apply. Perhaps the Minister will address himself to what advice he will give, as opposed to the type of discretion that he is about to define. Mr. Stewart The key point is that we are not discussing a general review power for the tribunal of the exercise by local authorities of the power of discretion. There may have been some misunderstanding about that in Committee. Secondly, when the tribunal is taking over the general landlord powers of a local authority, we argue that—it was the basis of the Bill—the tribunal should have the power of discretion that the landlord would have had. The hon. Member for Garscadden asked me to describe the discretions. The first would be to allow joint purchasers who do not qualify as of right—for example, someone who has recently returned from service in the Armed Forces and has been resident for less than six months. A second discretion would be to allow for discount the time spent as the child of a tenant. The hon. Gentleman may have come across that problem. I have experienced it in Renfrewshire. Mr. Dewar That is exactly the kind of problem that the Lands Tribunal will face. If the local authority, a!; the directly elected political body, is given the right to exercise discretion by adding in a period of service as a tenant which would not normally be counted, thus significantly increasing the discount that may be given, to the disadvantage of the local authority, is it satisfactory that such discretion should be cheerfully passed over to an administrative tribunal which is not open to pressures and arguments based on local realities and experience in the area concerned? Mr. Stewart This will apply only when the tenant is driven to the tribunal as a result of the landlord not carrying out his statutory duty in the first place. The key argument is that that failure on the part of the landlord should not deprive the tenant of the discretionary rights provided in the legislation. That was the intention. I know that the hon. Gentleman does not agree with me, but I hope that I have clarified the position. Mr. Home Robertson The Minister is being helpful, but perhaps he will answer this simple question. For my benefit and that of everyone else who is confused about what the Government are doing, will he explain which body exercises this discretion under the parallel legislation in England? Mr. Stewart I am not responsible for the legislation in England. Mr. Home Robertson The hon. Gentleman can find out from his advisers. Mr. Stewart As the hon. Gentleman knows, it has been well publicised that the powers are ultimately—[HON. MEMBERS: "Here comes the answer."]—Yes, it is exactly what I was about to say. In England, the powers are ultimately the responsibility of the Secretary of State. Mr. Home Robertson We certainly do not want that. Mr. Stewart There is no direct equivalent to the Lands Tribunal procedure. It is important to emphasise that the tribunal will never be reviewing the landlord's exercise of his own discretion. It will exercise its powers only when the landlord has failed to issue an offer to sell and therefore has not given a decision on how he would have exercised his powers. We are therefore dealing with a very limited number of cases. A number of passing references were made to housing policy generally, but it would not be appropriate for me to dwell at length on that. The hon. Member for Garscadden said that sales receipts for Glasgow and East Lothian were unrealistic. I should point out that both estimates of receipts have been agreed by the district councils themselves, so they do not regard the figures as unrealistic. The hon. Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hughes) asked what the legislative authority was. Section 94 of the 1973 Act gives the Secretary of State power to limit authorised capital allocations. Mr. Robert Hughes Perhaps I did not make myself clear. I was not seeking legislative authority for the Secretary of State to limit capital allocations. I am aware that he has statutory power to do that. What I challenge is his power to link capital allocation with his own arbitrary choice of a quota of houses that a local authority must sell in order to obtain capital allocations. There is no statutory basis for that, and well he knows it. Mr. Stewart It is not an arbitrary quota. It is an estimate, and it is in accordance with section 94, which does not limit how the Secretary of State exercises those powers. The hon. Gentleman may or may not think that this is desirable, but I assure him that it is legal under the 1973 Act. I do not believe that the Government amendments were seriously challenged by hon. Gentlemen. A number of hon. Members said that these were niggles and that we should be doing something different, but they did not seriously challenge the claim that these were desirable, and I do not think that the practices that they are designed to prevent have received any real support from the Opposition Benches. The Opposition have laid emphasis on the clauses relating to rural areas and housing for the disabled and the elderly. The onus is very much on the Opposition to show why Parliament should change its mind on the present legislative provisions, which were debated very fully and very reasonably. I do not believe that the Opposition have met that essential need, and for these reasons we cannot accept the Opposition's new clauses. Mr. Dewar The Minister's argument that the onus of proof is on the Opposition may well be true, but the task is easily discharged, because both these new clauses strike at lamentably mistaken decisions taken by his Government when the original legislation was implemented. I found his reply disappointing. It was a bland, somewhat pedestrian defence of a misguided position and I thought that it was lamentably inadequate. In order to avoid any doubt I say again that we do not intend to divide the House on new clause 1, but when we reach them in due order I shall invite my right hon. and hon. Friends to vote in favour of new clause 6, new clause 9 and amendment No. 76. These are matters on which we probably cannot look forward with confidence to tonight's vote, but on which we shall continue to campaign until we get much-needed reform. Question put and agreed to. Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill. New Clause 2 Power Of Regional Council To Contribute Financially Towards The Provision Of Recreational, Sporting, Cultural And Social Facilities And Activities '.—(1) A regional council may, as regards recreational, sporting, cultural or social facilities or activities, contribute— (a) by way of grant towards expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by a district council; or(a) by way of grant or loan towards expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by a voluntary organisation or other person, not being a local authority, in providing or maintaining such facilities (or as the case may be in providing or promoting such activities); and for the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the powers under the foregoing provisions of this section in relation to cultural activities include the power to make such contributions as will promote music, theatre, opera, ballet and other arts. (2) In the application of subsection (1) above to facilities which constitute a harbour, the reference in that subsection to providing or maintaining facilities shall be construed as including a reference to improving or managing them.'.— [Mr. Alexander Fletcher.] Brought up and read the First Time. The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Alexander Fletcher) I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine) With this it will be convenient to take amendment No. 31, in clause 12, page 10, line 25, at end add 'and will be required to levy a one per cent. rate to that end'. and the following Government amendments: Nos. 32 to 46, 51 to 53 and 117. Mr. Fletcher Our purpose in this new clause is to meet undertakings given in Committee. First, our object is to make clear within one clause the powers of a regional council to assist recreational, sporting, cultural or social facilities or activities. We agree that we must avoid any doubt as to the power of regions to continue to contribute in this way. It was, I believe, made very clear in Committee how important support from the regions is for such facilities and activities. Among those mentioned were the national companies in the arts, such as the Scottish National Orchestra and Scottish Opera. There was reference also to significant tourist attractions such as the Nairn swimming pool, and these are among the sectors which regions should be free to assist. In this clarification in the new clause we have also taken account of the argument in Committee that the Bill as originally drafted was too confined in clause 13(4) in restricting the assistance that a regional council could give to such facilities as benefited substantial numbers of person residing outwith the district in which the facilities were situated. It was evident from the arguments presented to us directly and in Committee that there could be many instances not meeting this criterion where a region thought it appropriate to give assistance. We accept that a regional council should be free to do so. 9 pm I have made passing mention of the considerable importance of the aid which regional councils give to the arts, and it has been stressed in our proceedings by Labour Members and others, especially the Scottish Arts Council. For the avoidance of doubt we undertook explicitly to mention that "cultural activities and facilities" include the full gamut of the arts, and this we do in subsection (1). Subsection (2) relates to contributions by a regional authority in respect of harbour facilities. It is a necessary drafting provision to enable such contributions to include assistance in improving or managing such facilities. This is to ensure consistency in the clause with the wording of the other amendments that are being submitted to clause 14, which provides that district councils should contribute towards the expenses of a harbour authority in providing, maintaining, improving or managing a harbour, and the existing wording of clause 17, which enables a district council to acquire a harbour for "sporting or recreational purposes". I trust that the new clause will find favour with the House. The various amendments to clauses 12–16 have been grouped together as they concern the responsibilities of island and district councils in providing sporting, recreational, cultural and social activities, which I shall hereafter refer to merely as "leisure". Many of the amendments do not alter the general intention of the clause to which they relate or change the underlying policy and intention of the Bill in respect of leisure. They are technical drafting amendments which in the main have been identified as necessary as a result of criticism of the drafting in Committee. The House is indebted to Committee members for their meticulous examination of the Bill. A number of the amendments propose deletions to enable a more logical reorganisation in the drafting. Amendment No. 43 is only slightly more substantial. Its aim is consistency of provision. Under clause 17 the powers and duties of improving, maintaining and managing a harbour are vested in the district council that acquires by agreement a harbour used wholly for sporting or recreational purposes. The amendment will enable a district council to give grants to harbour authorities for the same purposes including the managing of a harbour used wholly or in part for sporting and recreational purposes. I hope that this clarification of the purpose and- extent of the Bill in this respect will be acceptable to the House. Amendments Nos. 52 and 53 introduce a saving provision in respect of the power in clause 13, as amended by amendment No. 37, to charge for admission to facilities provided by councils for leisure and recreational purposes. The provisions introduced make it clear that a council's powers do not extend to charging for admission to a facility which an enactment provides should be open to the public free of charge. In conclusion, all of the amendments are introduced to clarify the extent and purpose of the Bill. I hope that they will be acceptable to the House. Mr. Martin J. O'Neill (Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire) The group of amendments and the new clause have been introduced as a result of the representations in Committee. We are grateful to the Minister for fulfilling his undertaking and for looking again at the rather doctrinaire application of the principle of concurrency that was held in the original Bill. I regret that, when introducing the new clause, the Under-Secretary did not give any flavour of the debate, the discussion and the strength of the representations that were made against what can only be regarded as an insensitively bureaucratic first draft. The House would have been greatly assisted if the Minister had decided to withdraw the clauses and had provided us with a complete set of new clauses rather than this complicated system of amendments and paving amendments through which we have had to go and which the Minister has read with such passion and conviction. We are qualified in our enthusiasm for new clause 2 because regional authorities that do not have the political mechanisms within their organisation to provide an adequate pressure group within the regional councils on behalf of the arts will be hard pressed to find the money. We have argued the case in Committee, and it must be reiterated on the Floor of the House, that the local and regional authorities carve up their resources on the policy and resources committees. Most regional authorities have within the policy resources committees representatives of all the major spending committees. The policy resources committee, which could almost be called the cabinets of regional authorities, is where the budgetary debate takes place in its hardest political form. We remain dubious of the likelihood of the regional authorities being able to give the type of resources that are required by the arts in Scotland, if they are to continue in their present form. It is significant that national companies in Scotland such as the Scottish National Orchestra and the other bodies to which the Minister referred, depend for about 25 per cent. of their grant income on regional authorities. Authorities such as Lothian and Strathclyde contribute a large proportion of the income that is received by the arts in Scotland. The Government have gone some way to meet our objections, but we lack confidence in new clause 2, although we shall not oppose it. I regret that the Minister did not pay attention to amendment No. 31, and we shall be interested to hear his views. Again, we shall not push the amendment to a vote. Among other things, the Minister is responsible for the arts. He should reiterate the reliance of the arts in Scotland on local authority contributions. There is a considerable variation in local authority provision, which may reflect the varying level of commitment. That was brought out in Committee and a letter was frequently quoted from the chairman of the Arts Council in Scotland, Gerald Elliot. He was anxious about the varying degree of commitment to the arts by local authorities. We wish to learn what the Government feel about a 1p mandatory rate. They are singularly unenthusiastic to accept responsibility for rate increases, no matter how responsible they are for those increases because of their parsimonious attitude in the rate support grant settlement. If they wish local authorities to support the arts, they must consider other means of finance. If local authorities did not have to take the blame for charging a 1p rate they might be more imaginative in spending the money to support the arts. The major authorities support the national companies fairly consistently. The fringe groups are most vulnerable to major cuts. The Scottish organisation for the promotion of dance and other groups whose contribution to Scotland's cultural activities should not be measured by their size have all made representations. A mandatory rate might insulate those groups from the worst excesses of inflation. It might equalise the burden between authorities, although it is a rough and ready method. The hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton) said that there was a need to readjust the RSG between authorities. The proposal would mitigate the problems. The hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) could not tell us how the adjustments could be made to protect Arts Council activities and other artistic pursuits. Will the Minister clarify the provisions in new clause 2? Paragraph (a) states: "by way of grant towards expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by a district council". We know that the relationship between district councils and the regions has not always been as happy as it might have been. One of the major Scottish artistic events of the year is the Edinburgh Festival. I imagine that the Lothian region, which I expect will be constituted after the elections on Thursday in much the same way as it is now, would be reluctant to provide money that the Edinburgh district council ought to be finding for the support of certain artistic activities. 9.15 pm I recognise that hitherto the relationship in respect of the arts between Edinburgh district and Lothian region has been one of the few areas where there has been a measure of successful co-operation, certainly to the extent that one has been able to complement the other. However, there could be some difficulty if local authorities were not of one mind on the arts. I should therefore welcome some clarification in respect of subsection (1)(a) of new clause 2. We welcome contributions to voluntary organisations. We recognise that the Minister is really aiming at the fringe groups. The voluntary organisations often receive grants on a localised basis. I remember some of my colleagues from the Ayrshire constituencies talking about the support given to the Borderline Theatre Group, based in Ayrshire, and which attracts much support. That theatre group might have some difficulty attracting support if a greater pressure were placed on district councils without any great compulsion placed on the Strathclyde region. We recognise that the voluntary sector is accounted for. We therefore hope that the Minister will clarify subsection (1)(a) and the relationship between a region and a district. Some concern was expressed in Committee about "the other arts" that are mentioned at the end of subsection (1)(b). I presume that means the graphic arts. I hope that local authorities will not find themselves in difficulty if they wish to support any other form of art apart from the performing arts. Perhaps the Minister will consider that point and give an assurance that the graphic arts as well as the performing arts will be covered. We do not seek to divide the House on our amendment. We recognise that the technical amendments to which the Minister referred are perhaps not the most satisfactory way of dealing with the amending of the original clause. To an extent, we must be thankful for small mercies. The Minister has shown some flexibility here and has moved away from the strong and bureaucratic approach which the initial draft of the Bill suggested. There is some concurrency that is consistent with the requirements of a special situation in Scotland. We therefore give a cautious welcome—no more than that—to new clause 2. We hope that in the not too distant future subsequent legislation will return to a consideration of the financing of the arts. I recognise that at the moment the proposal in amendment No. 31 is still in embryonic form, but we hope that it may provide local authorities with an opportunity to look at the funding of and expenditure on the arts in a more relaxed manner. We recognise that by new clause 2 the districts will not have to shoulder the burden of support for the arts. We are grateful to that extent. We only hope that the Minister will express the encouragement and support that all the Scottish regions require. Not all of them are generous in support of the arts. It varies from one to the other. I hope that the Minister will tell the Scottish regions that they should be spending money on the arts. The pursuit of recreation and leisure is of prime importance, both as a source of employment and to provide those out of work with the much-needed activities, at a reasonable cost, that ought to be made available to them to fill the time that they have through no fault of their own. We do not wish to push new clause 2 or amendment No. 31 to a vote but we should be interested in the Minister's response to the points that we have made. Mr. McQuarrie I wish to raise two specific points on new clause 2. Subsection (1)(b) uses the words "by way of grant or loan towards expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by a voluntary organisation or other person, not being a local authority." Clause 20, on page 17 of the Bill, says: "In section 55 of the 1973 Act (which empowers a regional, islands or district council to contribute towards the expenses etc. of a community council in their area), the word 'Regional', shall cease to have effect." New clause 2 refers to a "voluntary organisation … not being a local authority". I contend that the community council is a voluntary organisation. Athough it is elected in its village area, the members of the community council do not enjoy any income, salary or expenses, or anything for loss of earnings. Is there an anomaly in the new clause? Could not the words "voluntary organisation" be taken as referring to community councils? At present, regional councils subscribe to the funds of community councils, albeit in many cases only in small part. Can voluntary organisations be construed as including community councils? The latter are not local authorities in the strict sense of the word. Sound voluntary organisations provide for the arts, and provide music and entertainment for the areas that they represent. In general they look after the welfare of the community. Therefore, I contend that if we accept new clause 2 the Minister should delete clause 20 and leave the power with the regional councils to make donations to community councils. My second point is in connection with subsection (2) of the new clause. I should like to ask the Minister to clarify what he said about a harbour. I have in my constituency a boat haven called the Cairnbull boat haven. For many years it was the harbour for the herring fishing vessels of Inverallochy and Cairnbull in my constituency. The boat haven has fallen into a state of disrepair and requires money to be spent on it. There is no organisation in law empowered to be able to provide the necessary funds to put it into a state of order. Unfortunately, under the terms of the trust for the boat haven, if it falls into a state of disrepair, it goes back to the trustees. That would be sad in a small village such as Cairnbull, which has a great reputation over many centuries as a good herring fishing village. In this instance, the council will have the power to give money to put this boat harbour into order. I hope that the Minister will reply to these two points when he replies. Mr. McKelvey I shall be brief. I welcome the new clause, if only because it proves that our arguments in Committee were based on common sense. In Committee the Government were so hell-bent on ending concurrency that their exuberance often overcame common sense. I welcome the clause, because it gives regional councils the opportunity to contribute to the cultural, sporting and social activities and facilities which we all hope to enjoy, but I hope that the Minister will explain how all that will be paid for. After all, some regions are bound to be nervous about spending money on those items lest it be considered that they had acted unreasonably in the view of the Secretary of State. It would therefore seem logical for the Government to give serious consideration to amendment No. 31, which would allow a 1 per cent. rate to cover that expenditure. That would not only encourage regional councils to act within their discretion on this form of payments, but would ensure that they had the money to spend on the purposes provided in the new clause. I hope that the Minister will tell us why amendment No. 31 is not acceptable, and how he will convince the various regional councils that if they act in accordance with new clause 2 and make the money available they can safely spend that money without incurring the wrath of the Secretary of State or the kind of action that has been taken against Lothian regional council. Sir Hector Monro (Dumfries) I was not a member of the Standing Committee, and therefore I was not deeply involved in the debates there. However, on Second Reading I raised queries about the policy in Stodart of giving responsibility for sport to the districts and taking it away from the regions. So far, by and large, the region has had responsibility, because of the availability of education authority sports facilities such as playing fields, sports halls, swimming pools, and so on. However, that does not mean that certain district councils, such as Annandale and Eskdale, have not been extremely active and provided excellent facilities. In new clause 2 my hon. Friend has struck a balance which, in the long run, may be the best, except of course when it comes to the problem of finance. I suspect that hard-pressed authorities will be reluctant to help other authorities, whether regions or districts, to provide facilities for which they are basically responsible. 9.30 pm In his other capacity as Minister with responsibility for sport in Scotland, my hon. Friend will have been pleased at the development of local sports councils over recent years. They have fitted in with the district councils and, in some circumstances, the regional councils, to assist the development of sport, not only in the provision of facilities, but, more importantly, in the organisation of administration, helping with coaching and in a hundred other ways in which voluntary sport works in this country. New clause 2 will enable the regional councils to assist the districts to continue the development of sport locally. That is probably the best compromise that the Minister could propose to the House. Naturally, I shall not be completely convinced until we see the structure work in practice. That brings us back to the financial issue. In this new approach we must highlight the warmth of encouragement and confidence that we give to the voluntary side of sport in this country. It can manage its facilities extremely well. All that it needs is a little pump priming from the Sports Council or from the local authorities. In that way we are far more likely to develop in the right direction. We must use the motto of the Sports Council, "Sports for all". That means sport for everybody, from youngsters right through to the top. Therefore, I support my hon. Friend in his new clause 2. I hope that in the long run the structure that he proposes will work satisfactorily. Mr. Dennis Canavan (West Stirlingshire) I was not on the Standing Committee which dealt with the Bill. However, I congratulate my hon. Friends on raising this matter in Committee and on bringing pressure on the Government to bring forward this amendment. It certainly clarifies the role and power of regional councils in assisting sport, leisure, recreation and the arts. It is appropriate that the Under-Secretary should speak by w ay of introduction, and I hope that he will reply to the debate. He is the Minister with responsibility not just for industry and education in Scotland, which he is trying his best to wreck, but also for sport and for the arts in Scotland. Wearing the latter two caps his record is no better than it is on industry and education. The Minister's weekend statement, in which he cast doubts upon the possibility of Scotland's participation in the World Cup, seemed to be at variance with that of the Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for Sport at the Department of the Environment, the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Macfarlane) who explicitly said in a reply to me just a matter of weeks ago that he was against a boycott. For the Minister to give off-the-cuff statements, apparently without any authority, is a great disservice to Scotland's international football team. However, perhaps we should not be all that surprised when we consider his lack of service to sport in general. Mr. Alexander Fletcher It is probably not necessary to clarify this point for anyone in Britain other than the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan). However, I think that I should do so, because he has raised the point. There is no question of United Kingdom teams boycotting the World Cup in Spain. There is no comparison between the World Cup in Spain and the Olympic Games in Moscow, where Russia, the host country, had created the difficulties by its attack on Afghanistan. The extremely obvious point that I was making on Saturday was that if hostilities between the United Kingdom and Argentina are continuing during the World Cup, in my view it would be impossible for any United Kingdom team to meet the Argentine in a football match in Spain. That is a perfectly straightforward and simple fact which even the hon. Gentleman should have no difficulty, not only in grasping but in agreeing with. Mr. Canavan Our argument is with the Argentine junta, not with the Argentine football team. The Minister's statement seemed to be at variance with the statement of his colleague at the Department of the Environment. Sir Hector Monro rose—— Mr. Canavan The hon. Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) was sacked from the job as Minister with responsibility for sport. Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine) Order. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will now return to the amendment. Sir Hector Monro The hon. Gentleman is a stupid old fool. Mr. Canavan I am not a stupid old fool. The hon. Member for Dumfries, who was sacked and given a knighthood as some phoney reward for his services to a discredited Prime Minister, must be a silly old fool ever to have been a member of that Government. Mr. Deputy Speaker Order. That has even less to do with the amendment. Mr. Canavan As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted by a sacked Minister and another incompetent Minister with responsibility for sport, the Minister's record of giving financial support to sport in Scotland is no better than his failure rate in giving financial support to Scottish education and industry. His deplorable record on Hampden Park, which was a project on which the regional council and the district council—[Interruption.]—— Sir Hector Monro That has nothing to do with it. Mr. Canavan It has. The hon. Gentleman is showing his ignorance by saying that, because it was a tripartite project involving Strathclyde regional council, Glasgow district council and the Minister. When the Minister withdrew his commitment to give financial support the project collapsed and Scotland was left with a national stadium which is more like a gigantic public lavatory than a stadium of which the nation can be proud. The Minister should take responsibility for that, and I hope that the purpose of this amendment is not simply to pass the buck to Strathclyde regional council or any other regional council and leave it to provide financial support for either sport or the arts. Mr. Alexander Fletcher rose—— Mr. Canavan I give way to the Minister who created the Hampden Park fiasco. Mr. Fletcher For the clarification of anyone who may be in doubt following the hon. Gentleman's remark about the Hampden Park episode, I should say that the first party to withdraw was Glasgow district council. The second party to withdraw was a majority of the premier division football clubs in Scotland. Only after that did the Government feel that it was no part of our purpose to force a stadium on to Scottish football at a time when it seemed most reluctant to accept it. Mr. Canavan The truth is that if the Minister had given more encouragement to Glasgow district council, to Strathclyde regional council and to the Scottish football authorities we might have had a chance of a national football stadium of which we could have been proud instead of the national disgrace that we now have. The Minister cannot be allowed off the hook on this matter, because he was mainly responsible for the project and his withdrawal of a firm commitment on the part of the Government was mainly responsible for the collapse. I hope that he will not use this amendment simply to require local authorities to provide the necessary financial support. The Minister's record of support for the arts is no better than his record of support for sport. A project in my constituency is threatened as a direct result of Government policy. It is the sort of project that comes under the terms of this amendment. I refer to the MacRoberts Arts Centre at Stirling university. The university is being hit by the educational policies of the Government and, despite representations made by local Members of Parliament, including myself, it seems as though we are talking to a stone wall. If we had the backing of the Scottish Office perhaps we should be able to do something more for the University of Stirling, but unfortunately the Minister who is responsible for education in Scotland has said virtually nothing. He did not even give us the backing that we expected when we went to see the Secretary of State for Education and Science. A recent bulletin of the Scottish Arts Council describes some of the activities of the MacRobert Arts Centre. For the year ended March 1981, the centre presented 370 performances of 197 different events which were attended by 115,320 people. Productions included the first performance by the Scottish Theatre Company of "Let Wives Tak Tent" and also the opening night of "Civilians". Other visiting theatre companies included Perth Theatre, 7:84 Scotland, Wildcat and the New Shakespeare Company and there have also been visits by D'Oyly Carte and Scottish Opera, which played to near-capacity audiences. Because of Government cutbacks to the Arts Council and the Scottish Arts Council, D'Oyly Carte, for example, has, I understand, lost its grant. Will it now be left, under the terms of the legislation, to local authorities to step in to make some sort of recompense for the drastic cutbacks imposed by the Government, who refused to give the Arts Council and the Scottish Arts Council a big enough budget? The MacRobert centre is funded by a grant from the Scottish Arts Council and it received £84,270 for the year ended March 1981. The University of Stirling gave £67,000 and Scottish local authorities, particularly two local ones in which the MacRobert arts centre is situated—the Central region and Stirling district—and other Scottish local authorities that contributed, gave a total of £21,953. Total attendances at all events were 115,320. Can the Minister give us some clarification on whether he is expecting local authorities, for example the Central regional council, to use their powers under the Bill simply to use up more and more of their money to make up for the inadequacies of the Government? Considering the lack of rate support grant and the general lack of financial support from the Government to local authorities, I am sure that the regional council will be as generous as possible. Nevertheless, the Government cannot be allowed to escape from their responsibilities either, or the Minister, instead of being the Minister with responsibility for sport and for arts in Scotland, will be in danger of ending up being branded as an unsporting Philistine. Mr. Maclennan In the debate on clause 12 in Committee the Opposition, in the person of the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar), made a strong case for saying that responsibility for the arts ought to remain squarely with both the regions and districts. The hon. Gentleman deployed the case against the arrangements in the Bill with considerable cogency. In doing so he rehearsed the fear expressed by, among others, Mr. Gerald Elliot, the chairman of the Arts Council in Scotland, that removing responsibility for the arts from regional councils would almost certainly lead to the danger of a reduction in the funding of the arts by local authorities. 9.45 pm Therefore, I am surprised that the official Opposition have expressed such support for new clause 2, which seems to fall short of the proposals made by the hon. Member for Garscadden in Committee. The new clause is merely an enabling clause, which underlines what the Minister made clear in Committee, which is that it was hoped that regional councils would consider continuing the funding of the arts. I understand that he did not believe that the Bill prevented them from doing so. Mr. O'Neill I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's difficulty, because this is the first time that he has shown any interest in this matter. He did not attend any sitting of the Committee and did not table an amendment to clear up the deficiencies in the clause that he is attacking. Therefore, I do not see why he should choose to attack the official Opposition. Mr. Maclennan If the hon. Gentleman's interventions are to be abusive I shall be more scant in the number of occasions on which I give way to him and his Front Bench colleagues. I wish to see the Bill come through the Report stage with a greater clarification of the Government's intention than is likely to follow from the remarks of the hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire (Mr. O'Neill), who did little more than welcome new clause 2. The new clause is solely permissive and does not remove the anxieties that have been expressed in Scotland, and were well deployed by the hon. Member for Garscadden, about the predicament of the arts. Only about 10 per cent. of the funding of the arts and other leisure and recreational activities came from the regions under the old dispensation, but the position was thought to be sufficiently serious for representations to be made by all those in Scotland who are concerned about these matters. The then Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind), pointed out fairly that discussions would have to take place with the local authorities about adjustments in the rate support grant, because he saw no reason why the total net expenditure should change as a result of the inclusion of clause 12. In opening the debate on new clause 2 the Minister was not able to tell us much about the Government's intentions in that respect. I hope that he will do so in his reply, because there is considerable concern, particularly in the regions with small, impecunious district councils, that they may find it difficult to make good from their smaller rate base the shortfall in expenditure on leisure and recreation facilities, which have hitherto been the responsibility of the regions. Can the Minister say what discussions have been held with CoSLA on these matters, and will he give an assurance that when the rate support grant for 1983–84 is calculated there will be no less money available and that proper allowance will be made for inflation, to ensure that the attempt partially to do away with concurrency of functions does not lead to a reduction in the funding of the arts, sport, leisure and recreation? Mr. Alexander Fletcher I should like to reply by referring to the remarks of the hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire (Mr. O'Neill). I do not wish to suggest that the Government's view of the matter following the Committee stage and the representations that were made to us by a number of bodies, including the Scottish Arts Council, is anything other than a move towards meeting the opinion and concern that were expressed by Opposition Members and by those other bodies. We had second thoughts about the matter following the strength of the representation. There is no need for me to suggest otherwise. Among other things, our attention was drawn to the important contribution from the regions in recent years to the arts in Scotland. I have a few figures that might help to illustrate the point. In 1980–81 the Scottish National Orchestra received almost 16 per cent. of its grant from local authorities and almost 42 per cent. from the Government through the Scottish Arts Council Scottish Opera received 3·7 per cent. of its grant from local authorities and almost 62 per cent. from the Scottish Arts Council. The local authorities made a smaller contribution, but it was an important and significant contribution to the arts in Scotland. Although the Bill is aimed at ending concurrency of powers, we did not take such a dogmatic view of the arrangements that we wished to end contributions by the regions. Therefore, new clause 2 is aimed entirely at enabling the regions to continue to support the arts in Scotland. The hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire referred to funding in future. The central issue is whether the rate support grant distribution formula should be adjusted to reflect the change of responsibility. That issue will require discussion in the working party on local government finance, prior to making up the 1983–84 settlement. It will be necessary to have regard to all the changes embodied in the Bill, of which leisure and recreation is only one. The hon. Gentleman's point is taken. Mr. O'Neill Will the Minister concede that we are discussing an extremely complicated issue, which is the readjustment of the rate support grant to take account of what might be a relatively small amount? Is there not a danger that that relatively small amount will be lost in the negotiations? Is the Minister confident that his officials will be able to keep track of it and ensure that the local authorities are able to continue to accept the figures that are being suggested? Has there been any sign that the local authorities are conscious of the difficulties that they may have to face? Mr. Fletcher I am sure that the local authorities are aware of that. I am also sure that the hon. Gentleman is aware that the RSG settlement is a complicated matter, made up of many items, including small items that must be taken into account. Therefore, I do not believe that there is anything different or unusual in asking the people responsible to take into account the items to which we are referring this evening. The arts in Scotland depend heavily on public subscription. It is common knowledge that the expansion of the arts and leisure activities in Scotland, although we have been able to maintain considerable funding through the Scottish Arts Council and the Scottish Sport Council, even at a time of financial restraint, will require to depend more and more on the private sector and on attracting funds from the many businesses that trade in and around Scotland. The hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire raised the question of the mandatory rate with regard to amendment No. 31. We considered whether we could accept the spirit of the amendment, which we take to be that a council should be statutorily obliged to levy rates of a given amount that can be spent in fulfilling their duties under subsection (1) of clause 12. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that that is contrary to the practice that no part of a rate is allocated by statute for particular purposes. It would be unwarranted interference in the affairs of local government. I am sure that he appreciates that the last thing that the Government want to do is interfere in local government affairs in this or any other respect. The hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire also referred to paragraph (b) of new clause 2. He asked about the inclusion of the graphic arts. We specifically refer to the need to "promote music, theatre, opera, ballet and the other arts" because, among the representations that we received, anxiety was expressed about the Scottish National Opera, the Scottish Ballet and others. The graphic arts are in no way excluded. They are referred to in the reference to "the other arts". My hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. McQuarrie) referred to the difficulties of community councils and asked whether they were voluntary organisations. I do not think so. They are set up by statute under local government legislation. They would not, therefore, be referred to as voluntary organisations in that sense. They are part of the local government structure and are therefore not necessarily excluded by the new clause. My hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, East also referred to Cairnbulg boat haven. There is nothing in the Bill or the amendments that would prevent local authorities from helping. Indeed, provision is made for local authorities to spend resources to develop leisure facilities of that kind. The only objection that I can think of is if a trust deed affecting Cairnbulg prohibited a public body from taking part. The trust deed might have to be amended, if the local authority—Grampian region or the district council—wished to make a contribution to develop the harbour. That would be a normal matter for the trustees on the one hand and a local authority on the other to take into account. My hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) reminded the House that regional councils have an educational responsibility. I use the word in the broadest sense. He also reminded us that the distinction between leisure and recreation is not precise. Hence the powers in the Bill to allow regions to continue to participate in the type of activities that we are discussing. The same applies to sports activities. I emphasise what my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries said about the need to encourage voluntary efforts, especially through the Sports Council, and the encouragement that local authorities can give. As my hon. Friend knows from his experience in these matters, a small sum of money from a local authority for a voluntary effort in sport or recreation can go a long way towards satisfying the needs of a local community, especially a rural one. I am conscious of my hon. Friend's point. The hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. McKelvey) asked how the region is to pay for its contribution and referred to what he described as the wrath of the Secretary of State in matters affecting local authority expenditure. He need have no fear, nor need any local authority that presents its case for reasonable expenditure, because that is what we are dealing with in these and other respects. Therefore, in considering the matters that we have further discussed today, I hope that the House will support the new clause and the other Government proposals before us. Question put and agreed to. Clause read a second time, and added to the Bill. It being Ten o'clock, further consideration of the Bill stood adjourned. Ordered, That, at this day's sitting, the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Bill may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour.—[Mr. Goodlad.] Bill, as amended (in the Standing Committee), again considered. New Clause 3 Appointment Of Committees In the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, after subsection (5) of section 57 (which governs the appointment of committees), there shall be inserted the following subsection: '(b) In appointing a committee under subsection (1)(a) above the authority shall have regard to the qualifications of those members appointed and to the composition of the authority.'." Brought up, and read the First time. Mr. Deputy Speaker With this we are to take Government amendments Nos. 90 to 92. Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Edinburgh, West) I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. The principle of the new clause is simply that after a democratic election has taken place the rights of Opposition parties should be protected and the composition of committees should reflect as far as possible the composition of the council concerned. In short, majority parties should not act as though minority parties in opposition did not exist by excluding them from committees. The new clause does not apply in three sets of circumstances. First, it does not apply to policy and resources committees, because they are advisory committees and differ from others in certain respects. Secondly, it cannot apply to the majority where the majority of councillors are independents because it would not be possible to resolve what would or would not be representative. Thirdly, it does not apply to sub-committees. Mr. Foulkes The hon. Gentleman has described three sets of circumstances in which the new clause would not apply. Where are those exclusions provided for in the new clause? My understanding of the new clause may be deficient, but I certainly cannot see how all those exclusions are covered. Lord James Douglas-Hamilton The new clause is drafted in such a way that it does not cover those three sets of circumstances, but it most certainly covers circumstances in which a council deliberately excludes minority parties when appointing a committee. Mr. Foulkes rose—— Lord James Douglas-Hamilton No. I have answered the hon. Gentleman's question. I must continue. The clause is drafted in such a way that it does not cover those three sets of circumstances. Mr. Home Robertson Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Lord James Douglas-Hamilton No. In at least one council in Scotland that has attracted public attention, when appointing a committee—for instance, the housing committee—to exercise power on behalf of the full council, Kirkcaldy district council did not allow any councillors from opposition parties to be appointed. It is highly desirable that the rights of minority parties should be recognised. Kirkcaldy district council consisted of 23 Labour councillors, one Communist, three Conservatives, four Scottish National Party members, two from the ratepayers, two independents and one Liberal, but there were no opposition councillors at all on the housing committee. In February last year, in the Standing Committee on the Local Government (Scotland) Bill, the Under-Secretary of State said: "I believe that the position in this one authority is frankly unacceptable to the House, that it is a scandal and that we cannot accept it. The issues raised go far beyond party politics. It is basic to democracy that oppositions and minority groups should have rights. That is in the interests of all political parties."—[Official Report, First Scottish Standing Committee, 24 February 1981; c. 644.] The Under-Secretary was not alone in expressing that view. I have here a statement from the Dundee Courier in which the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Mr. Gourlay)—and I have given him notice that I would raise this matter—expressed himself on 9 May 1980. He said of the situation in the district council that it was "a departure from the democratic process in the House of Commons, which is regarded throughout the world as the Mother of Parliaments. It is laid down quite clearly that membership of committees must accurately reflect membership of the bodies in the House. The move by the district council brings us somewhat nearer to the type of dictatorship we fought during the last war." He went on to say: "Not only do they take the chairmanships and memberships but even dictate who the opposition spokesmen will be. That is not the kind of democracy that I would like to be a party to. I hope that commonsense will enventually prevail." In fairness, I should mention that the position of that particular council may well be changing, but there have been other councils in Scotland where the representation on committees has been unfair and unrepresentative. It seems that the rights of minorities should be protected. After all, if opposition parties are not allowed representation on committees not only are they denied freedom of expression but they will be unable effectively to represent the interests of their constituents. Above all, the principle that there should be freedom of expression was expressed very well by John Stuart Mill when he said words to the effect that if all mankind minus one were of one opinion and only one person were of the contrary opinion mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one man than he would be in silencing mankind. I hope that the Minister will look at this problem in conjunction, if necessary, with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and that the rights of oppositions and minorities will be properly protected. Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. About an hour ago it was mentioned on television that one of the British ships, HMS "Sheffield", had been destroyed in the South Atlantic. Has the Prime Minister indicated whether she intends coming to the House tonight to explain precisely what happened? Mr. Deputy Speaker As soon as there is any such information it will be given to the House. Mr. Leo Abse (Pontypool) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. While it may be that such information will be given in due course, the alarm, concern and distress that exist as a consequence of the massive folly that is occurring demand that there should be an immediate statement in the House. Surely it is necessary that the Prime Minister should come to the House and tell us precisely what has occurred, so that the House can give a firm indication of the need for a cessation of hostilities on the initiative of this Government and the need for far more urgent attempts to negotiate. Mr. Deputy Speaker I am sure the observations of the hon. Gentleman will be noted. Mr. Frank Allaun (Salford, East) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I think you will agree that the Government have the power to do everything. They have the power to interrupt business, suspend business, promote new business. I put it to you that the sinking of HMS "Sheffield" is so serious, is such a dramatic and tragic event, that hon. Members on both sides of the House really want to hear a statement from the Ministry. As you will know, Mr. Deputy Speaker, the sinking was announced on television at 9 o'clock by the Ministry of Defence. Therefore, it must know the facts. Members are entitled to hear those facts without waiting until tomorrow, when the situation will probably have worsened. I think that you might convey this message to the proper quarters. Mr. Deputy Speaker The message has been conveyed. Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The Leader of the House is present. He understands the feelings of the House and the necessity to make a statement before the House adjourns. It would be almost a contempt of the House for us to adjourn tonight without a statement being made. Surely we do not have to wait to read the newspapers or listen to the news in the morning. We require the Leader of the House to tell us as quickly as possible when the Defence Minister is going to be at the Dispatch Box, and we certainly expect a statement tonight. Mr. John Stokes (Halesowen and Stourbridge) On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I think that it would be a great mistake if the House were to panic. This great and ancient nation has been through many wars and struggles and it does not need a debate and a statement every five minutes because a ship has been sunk. Let us back those who are fighting and not let them down by panicking here. The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. John Biffen) The loss of HMS "Sheffield" and recent events reported from the Falklands very properly excite the deep concern of the House. Throughout the whole of the Falklands episode the Government have sought to keep the House informed in as comprehensive a fashion as possible for the convenience of the House. The situation concerning the loss of the "Sheffield" is still not totally clarified, but, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has said that he wishes to make a statement first thing after Questions tomorrow, I am certain that he will then be in a position—— Mr. Winnick We must have it now. Mr. Biffen —to give the House the most up-to-date information that is available, which is consistent with the tradition of informing the House as well as having regard to sheer practicalities. Mr. George Foulkes (South Ayrshire) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The House will not adjourn in the near future, as those of us debating the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Bill know only too well. There will be plenty of time tonight and early tomorrow morning for a statement to be made as we continue to consider the Bill. I am sure that all those who are considering it would more than welcome the intervention of the Secretary of State for Defence in our proceedings to make the appropriate statement. Mr. Deputy Speaker I am sure that the hon. Gentleman's observations have been duly noted by the Leader of the House. We are now dealing with new clause 3. Mr. Abse Further to the statement made by the Leader of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Individual Members of Parliament, like the rest of the public, are given information of a grave event over the television that perhaps will affect the lives of hundreds of our young Service men. Obviously there is knowledge in possession of the Ministry of Defence. The Leader of the House has said that tomorrow is the time for a statement, but statements can be made by the BBC and the press can make comments tonight. The House has the responsibility of safeguarding the lives of our young men. We have heard the Government's response. What possible condition exists to justify the right hon. Gentleman's statement that tomorrow is the day to make a statement and not tonight when we are all assembled and when the nation expects a statement from a Minister, so that we all know who is responsible, what is to occur and what fresh initiative will take place before further lives are lost? Mr. Deputy Speaker The hon. Gentleman knows that none of these matters is for the Chair. Mr. Christopher Price (Lewisham, West) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. This is not a matter of panicking. When the Conservative Party won the last general election it stated in its manifesto that the House and no other body should be at the centre of the nation's affairs. For too long during this "episode", as the Leader of the House describes it, other institutions such as the television have been at the centre and the House has been peripheral to what is going on. As my hon. Friend the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes) has said, the business of the House has been arranged tonight to go on for quite a long time. The Leader of the House, on reflection, might agree that to defer a statement until tomorrow morning is unnecessary. I am not asking for an immediate statement now, but it must be possible for a Minister to come to the House before midnight to inform the House, as the Government are pledged to inform it in statement after statement, of the latest situation as the Government know it. If they do not do that, they will be going back on constant pledges from the Dispatch Box to keep the House at the centre of this information and not to let people pick it up from television, newspapers and other such organs. Mr. Deputy Speaker None of those matters is for the Chair. 10.15 pm Mr. Home Robertson Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. As you know, I am as concerned as anyone about matters of local government in Scotland, but at a time when, quite apart from the number of Argentines who lost their lives yesterday, news has now come through that a substantial number of British Service men must have lost their lives, it is quite inappropriate for the House to continue to debate affairs such as recreational, sporting, cultural and social facilities in Scotland or the peculiarities of the composition of certain committees of a local district council in Kirkcaldy. Rather than proceed with the debate in this type of atmosphere, I put it to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that the house should adjourn until such such time as the Prime Minister comes to make a statement. Mr. Gordon Wilson Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. There is a precedent—there must be many of them. A few years ago after a bomb attack and danger to a member of the Royal Family when a policeman was injured, the Minister concerned came before the House and interrupted a debate at which I was present to make a statement about what had happened. Having seen one of the news reports tonight, I know that the spokesman for the Ministry of Defence made a public statement on this matter and was televised doing so. As Ministers are in charge, and as the Prime Minister said today that there has been political control over the task force, would it not be appropriate for a Minister of the Crown to come before the House to answer for what has happened and to give us a statement and information. Mr. Deputy Speaker I am sure that all these matters have been noted by the Leader of the House. Mr. Andrew Faulds (Warley, East) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It is really not acceptable that the Leader of the House should abuse his inexperience in his present office not to fulfil his responsibilities to the House of Commons. There has been a disaster in the South Atlantic engineered by him and his party colleagues, and the least he can do in fulfilment of his duties to the House of Commons is to summon his senior colleagues to explain the present position at the Government Front Bench. May I say in addendum that it would also be necessary for the leaders of my party to attend that post mortem since they were originally party to this whole lunatic exercise in the South Atlantic. Mr. Martin Flannery (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Our city of Sheffield has great contacts with this particular ship. I should like to advance what my colleagues have said and ask that the House be adjourned, and that the Prime Minister should come here and give us whatever news there is. It is disgraceful that we should have to learn from outside what is happening when we have been elected to come to the House and learn whatever is happening. Therefore, I ask you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to ask the Prime Minister to come to the House and tell us what has happened to that ship. Mr. Deputy Speaker We have the Leader of the House present and we are debating another matter. Sir John Eden (Bournemouth, West) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. May I respectfully appeal to hon. Members on the Opposition Benches for a moment of calm? Is it not absolutely clear that in a military engagement it is inescapable that there will be casualties on both sides? Is it not also impossible for a campaign of that nature to be conducted by question and answer across the Floor of the House? Would it not be much more appropriate for us to proceed with the normal business of the House so that a considered statement can be made in the House tomorrow? Mr. Biffen I very much wish to assist the House in making progress this evening in the way in which it feels most congenial and orderly. I appreciate that in all parts of the House there is deep concern over the recent news. There is great anxiety that the matter should be fully ventilated in the Chamber. Some feel that it must happen this evening. I believe that the majority feel that the most appropriate occasion would be for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to make a comprehensive statement tomorrow afternoon with all the available information that he will then have. I believe that chat would be a gesture consistent with the traditions of the House and with the nature of the situation. I hope that those who feel that it is necessary for a statement to be secured this evening will realise that there are good, sound arguments for believing that the House would be better served by having a statement tomorrow when the additional information will be available. Several Hon. Members rose—— Mr. Deputy Speaker Mr. Allan Stewart. Several Hon. Members rose—— Mr. Deputy Speaker Order. We cannot debate the matter now. We are debating another matter and I have called Mr. Allan Stewart. Mr. Allan Stewart With new clause 3 we are considering Government amendments Nos. 90 to 92. These amendments bear on the operation of the option now to be available to councillors to choose between the receipt of financial loss allowance and attendance allowances—— Mr. McKelvey On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Is it in order for the House to continue to debate Scottish affairs when we cannot apply our full minds to the business? It is grossly unfair to expect Ministers to do justice to the job. It is equally unfair to expect the Opposition to argue the important points that we wish to deal with. It is not a case of being hysterically anti-British or anti-Scottish. Nor is it terribly British or Scottish to continue to debate matters that are of less importance than what is happening in the South Atlantic. If we continue it will be grossly misunderstandood by the friends and relatives of those who may have died. Mr. Biffen It is important for the House to proceed in as good tempered a fashion as possible. My arguments have not been entirely persuasive to a certain section of the House. Minorities have rights as well as those who, I believe, constitute the majority. If it will help, I shall convey to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence the opinions expressed in the hope that he might be able to come to the House for what I am sure will be understood to be a brief holding statement, since the main statement must take place—[Interruption.] I am trying to help and to accommodate what I believe are genuine feelings. It might be as well if there were in the Chamber a degree of gravity consistent with the situation. I shall convey to my right hon. Friend the sentiments expressed, in the hope that he will come to the House before very long. Mr. Allan Stewart With new clause 3 we are considering Government amendments Nos. 90 to 92. These amendments bear on the operation of the option that is now to be available to councillors to choose between the receipt of financial loss allowance and attendance allowance for the performance of an approved duty— [Interruption]. We are indebted to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes), and I am delighted that he is present. Mr. Foulkes On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I am sorry, but I am having great difficulty in hearing what the Minister is saying. As on this occasion he is referring to me, it would be helpful if I heard him. Perhaps we can just wait a few moments, or perhaps he can speak up. Mr. Home Robertson Or, better still, adjourn the House. Mr. Deputy Speaker I have no difficulty in hearing the hon. Gentleman, so I hope that we shall have no difficulty in hearing the Minister. Mr. Stewart Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I hope that the hon. Member for South Ayrshire can hear me now. I was saying that the House is indebted to him for his suggestion—— Mr. Maxton On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. May I ask the Minister to go back to the beginning of his remarks, because it has been extremely difficult to follow him? It would do justice to his case if he were to start at the beginning of his remarks, because we would then be able to follow the argument. Mr. Stewart I am happy, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to do so. I was saying that, with new clause 3, moved by my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton), we are considering Government amendments Nos. 90 to 92. I shall begin by referring to those amendments before dealing with new clause 3. These amendments bear on the operation of the option now to be available to councillors to choose between the receipt of financial loss allowance and attendance allowance for the performance of an approved duty. As I said, we are indebted to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire for his suggestion in Committee that the detailed administrative arrangements currently set out in subsections (2) to (6) of new section 45A of the 1973 Act as introduced by clause 52 should be prescribed otherwise than in primary legislation. The provision in its present form follows the corresponding English legislation in the 1980 Act and the detailed administrative procedures prescribed are basically to facilitate taxation arrangements. We have, however, looked at this carefully in the light of the hon. Member for South Ayrshire's suggestion, and we have concluded that there is no good reason why this sort of administrative detail should not be dealt with by regulations. The amendments now before the House give effect to that. It will be noted that there is already a power in section 50 of the 1973 Act to enable my right hon. Friend to make any necessary regulations. I hope that hon. Members will agree that the amendments give an added flexibility to the operation of the clause and will, of course, avoid the need to amend primary legislation if, for example, the detailed provisions in subsection (2) to (6) should become obsolete. On that basis, I commend the amendments to the House. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, West on raising an important topic in new clause 3 and on the way in which he moved it. The topic is a general one—the rights of minorities to representation on committees in Scottish local authorities. As my hon. Friend said, public attention was focused on the issue by what happened in one district council, where the incoming ruling group excluded minority parties from major committees. My hon. Friend quoted not only myself but the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Mr. Gourlay) as saying how deplorable that action was. I am sure that that was the view of the House. This House depends on representation and reasonable speaking rights for minorities. Therefore, there is no doubt about the public concern over what happened in Kirkcaldy. It is, however, a relatively isolated incident. I can quote from my own regional authority. A number of hon. Members from the Strathclyde region are present. I know that the Labour group in Strathclyde has been meticulous in ensuring representation of and information to the minority parties. Therefore, I do not think that we are considering a major problem that affects local authorities as a whole. 10.30 pm However, my hon. Friend has raised a major point of principle and one of public concern. I am happy to confirm acceptance of his suggestion that we should consider this with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. We have drawn the matter to its attention and are awaiting its reactions. On the basis of that assurance, and my full sympathy with my hon. Friend's point of principle, I hope that he will feel able to seek to withdraw new clause 3. Mr. Maxton I know that many of us on the Labour Benches do not feel much like continuing the debate. Many of us feel with my hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. McKelvey) that we should have adjourned until the statement had been made. However, as we have decided to continue, then continue we must. The democratic process of examining new clauses and putting points that have to be made on Government amendments still has to go on. In discussing new clause 3, the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton) and the Minister were wrong about Strathclyde region with regard to one committee. Like Glasgow district council, the Strathclyde region, although allowing minority groups on most committees, does not allow the general representation clause to be carried through on the policy committee. That committee is clearly in the hands of the Labour controlling group and no other party has a say. That is the position that the Cabinet is in. The policy committee decides the policy for the region as a whole. It ought to be entirely in the hands of the controlling party. Other parties should not be allowed representation on that committee. In that case, the Labour-controlled Strathclyde council is right. The hon. Member for Edinburgh, West does not allow for that in his new clause. In essence, it says that any committee must be represented in the way that he is suggesting. Therefore, although I have some sympathy for the general point that he is making—that committee should have representation from all parties—I do not think that his new clause, as worded, is sufficient. It must take account of policy committees that are rightly in the hands of the controlling party. Mr. Bruce Milian (Glasgow, Craigton) Amendments Nos. 90, 91 and 92 have been tabled in response to representations made by my hon. Friend the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes). I congratulate him on them, because the provisions in the amendment are much simpler and more flexible. That is desirable, so there is no difference between the two sides of the House on these amendments. I understand what the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton) seeks to do in new clause 3. I shall not go into its merits because, again, there is little argument between the two sides of the House. Nevertheless, I am not enthusiastic about putting restrictions in a local government Bill on how local authorities should behave over the appointment of their committees. The Minister has fairly said that in the vast majority of cases there is no problem at the moment. I am not keen on disturbing that just because it is felt that in a particular case or area something has happened that is not completely desirable. I shall not go into that in detail because, as the Minister said, there will be discussions with CoSLA. Despite what the hon. Gentleman says, I believe that the clause is defective. In my view, it does not do what he said it does. However, I shall say no more, particularly as our attention has been diverted by other matters. If there is to be consultation, no doubt the Minister will tell us what it has produced, and we can then consider the matter. I hope that, on that basis, the hon. Gentleman will withdraw the new clause. Lord James Douglas-Hamilton In view of the Minister's assurance, I shall be happy to seek to withdraw the new clause. However, I wish to point out to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) that what he said is covered by section 57(1)(a) of the 1973 Act, and that the new clause does not cover policy and resources committees. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Motion and clause, by leave, withdrawn. New Clause 4 Dogs Control 'Each island and district council shall have powers to pass bye-laws for the specific purpose of appointing persons or firms with acceptable qualifications who will undertake the duties of catching and removing to a compound stray dogs or dogs causing a nuisance or annoyance to the ratepayers, and subject to section 43(2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1961 the costs of such services shall be met by an increase in the amount of duties levied in respect of dog licences by the local authority. No increase shall be made on the licences for guide dogs, work dogs, and dogs owned by persons over the age of sixty years.'.— [McQuarrie.] Brought up, and read the First time. Mr. McQuarrie I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. I add my view to those aired by the hon. Members for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton), for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) and for Kilmarnock (Mr. McKelvey), that those of us from Scotland have no stomach for further discussion of the Bill at this time. However, as we have been assured by the Leader of the House that the Secretary of State for Defence will come to the House this evening to make a statement, it is only fair to endeavour to proceed, in spite of the fact that there is nothing less important on our minds than the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Bill, and the amendments and new clauses to it. So until the Minister arrives, it is only fair that the House should endeavour to continue. New clause 4 stands in my name and is supported by right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House. It gives each island and district council "powers to pass by-laws for the specific purpose of appointing persons or firms with acceptable qualifications who will undertake the duties of catching and removing to a compound stray dogs or dogs causing a nuisance or annoyance to the ratepayers, and subject to section 43(2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1961 the costs of such services shall be met by an increase in the amount of duties levied in respect of dog licences by the local authority. No increase shall be made on the licences for guide dogs, work dogs and dogs owned by persons over the age of sixty years." The control of dogs is causing serious concern in almost every local authority in the country. Similar expressions of concern have been made by the many organisations dealing with animal welfare. The House will be aware that local authorities have certain powers under section 56(5) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and that police officers have powers under section 3 of the Dogs Act 1906 to seize stray dogs, but recent history suggests that the attempt to control dogs has failed. That is borne out by the fact that the RSPCA has said that, on average, it destroys 160,000 stray dogs a year. The clause will give local authorities the power to take more positive steps to remove this nuisance and to ensure that dog control becomes effective. I ask my hon. Friend to accept the new clause. It will not increase the number of civil servants, because the local authority can appoint firms or persons who have undergone a period of training in dog warden duties and who have set up a small business for the purpose to carry out all the dog warden duties within a local authority's area. This person, or firm, would report to the director of environmental health for that district, which would not involve the local authority in any great expense. That leads me to the operating costs of the dog control system. There is already power available to the local authorities under section 43(2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1966. My right hon. Friend, as Secretary of State for Scotland, has power under the Dog Licences Act 1959 to fix the amount payable for a dog licence, notwithstanding the terms of section 43(3) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1966. It must be borne in mind that the existing licence fee is 37½p, which has not been altered for many years. Any attempt to operate a dog control system must of necessity mean raising the existing duty so that the ratepayers and the local authorities do not have to bear the burden. The clause makes provision for no increase for guide dogs used by the blind, work dogs and dogs owned by persons over 60 years of age. The clause will enable local authorities to by pass byelaws for dealing with the many problems caused by dogs. One of the worst features is the fouling of pavements and open spaces used by the public for leisure purposes. There is no need for me to elaborate upon this problem, as there is hardly a street in the country which at some stage during any given day is not fouled by a dog, which is often under the control of a person who has no thought or concern for the users of the pavement. Another problem which could receive the attention of the local authorities is the control of dangerous dogs and dogs which are not under their owner's control. If my hon. Friend will accept the clause, many other byelaws could be made by local authorities to deal with entry into food shops, identification tags, the raising of dogs, the use of veterinary officer services by dog owners, general human health risks, attacks on people, road safety and livestock worrying. As the Minister for Defence has now entered the Chamber, I do not wish to detain the House any longer on this subject. It is sufficient to say that the clause will be widely welcomed by all local authorities in Scotland, where the need for dog control is continually under discussion. It will give the authorities the powers that they require to deal with the matter much more fully than is possible under existing legislation. It is a much needed system which will also be welcomed by the public at large and should cause no offence to genuine dog lovers. I ask my hon. Friend to accept the clause, which I commend to the House. Mr. Allan Stewart My hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. McQuarrie) has raised a matter of considerable interest and concern. I hope that in the light of what I say he will consider withdrawing his new clause. My hon. Friend is a member of the Committee considering the Civic Government (Scotland) Bill. Clause 130 of the Bill gives powers to local authorities to appoint people to assist the police to round up stray dogs. Licence fees can be increased without primary legislation by an order made under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1966. I hope my hon. Friend will agree that any action on that must be on a British basis, not a purely Scottish basis. Licence fees for dog fouling nuisances are dealt with in clause 50 of the Civie Government (Scotland) Bill. I have no doubt that we shall have ample opportunity to consider these points in Committee on that Bill, and on that basis I invite my hon. Friend to withdraw his new clause. Mr. McQuarrie In view of the Minister's comments and the fact that I serve on the Committee dealing with the Civic Government (Scotland) Bill, where I shall have a further opportunity to elaborate and enlarge upon the speech that I have made tonight and which, unfortunately, has not been heard properly due to distressing circumstances, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Motion, and clause, by leave withdrawn. New Clause 6 Sale Of Council Houses In Rural Areas 'In section 4 of the Tenants' Rights Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980 (regarding the conditions of sale), for subsections 7 to 8 there shall be substituted the following subsection— "(7) In a rural area to which an order under subsection (6) above applies, there will be no further disposal of the dwelling-house unless (a) the tenant (or his successor in title) has offered to reconvey the dwelling-house to the landlord for a price to be determined by the district valuer as being the value of the dwelling-house at the time the offer is made; and (b) the landlord has refused the offer or has failed to accept it within one month after it was made.".'.—[Mr. Milian.] Brought up, and read the First time. Motion made, and Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:— The House divided: Ayes 201, Noes 285. --------------------------------------------------------------- |Abse, Leo |Eadie,Alex | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Allaun,Frank |Eastham, Ken | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Alton, David |Ellis, R.(NED'bysh're) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Anderson, Donald |Ellis, Tom (Wrexham) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Archer, Rt Hon Peter |English,Michael | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Ashley, Rt Hon Jack |Ennals, Rt Hon David | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Ashton.Joe |Evans, Ioan (Aberdare) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Atkinson,N.(H'gey,) |Evans, John (Newton) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Bagier, Gordon A.T. |Faulds,Andrew | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Barnett,Guy(Greenwich) |Field,Frank | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Beith, A.J. |Flannery.Martin | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Bennett,Andrew(St'kp'tN) |Fletcher.Ted (Darlington) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Bidwell,Sydney |Foot, Rt Hon Michael | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Booth, Rt Hon Albert |Forrester,John | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Boothroyd,MissBetty |Foster, Derek | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Bray, Dr Jeremy |Foulkes,George | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Brocklebank-Fowler.C, |Fraser, J. (Lamb'th, N'w'd) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Brown, R. C. (N'castle W) |Garrett, John (Norwich S) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Brown, Ron (E'burgh, Leith) |Garrett, W. E. (Wallsend) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Buchan,Norman |George, Bruce | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Callaghan, Rt Hon J. |Gilbert, Rt Hon Dr John | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Callaghan,Jim(Midd't'n & P)|Golding,John | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Campbell-Savours,Dale |Graham, Ted | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Canavan,Dennis |Grimond, Rt Hon J. | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Cant, R. B. |Hamilton, W. W. (C'tral Fife)| --------------------------------------------------------------- |Carmichael,Neil |Hardy, Peter | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Clark, Dr David (S Shields) |Harrison, Rt Hon Walter | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Cocks, Rt Hon M. (B'stol S) |Haynes, Frank | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Coleman, Donald |Hogg, N. (EDunb't'nshire) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Concannon, Rt Hon J. D. |Holland,S.(L'b'th,Vauxh'll) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Conlan,Bernard |HomeRobertson,John | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Cook, Robin F. |Homewood,William | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Cowans, Harry |Hooley, Frank | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Craigen, J. M. (G'gow, M'hill) |Howells,Geraint | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Crowther,Stan |Hoyle,Douglas | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Cryer,Bob |Huckfield,Les | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Cunliffe,Lawrence |Hughes,Mark(Durham) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Cunningham, Dr J. (W'h'n) |Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dalyell,Tam |Hughes, Roy (Newport) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Davidson,Arthur |John,Brynmor | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (L'lli) |Johnson, Walter (Derby S) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Davies, Ifor (Gower) |Johnston, Russell(Inverness) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Davis, Clinton (HackneyC) |Jones, Rt Hon Alec (Rh'dda) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Davis, Terry (B'ham, Stechf'd) |Jones, Barry (East Flint) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Deakins,Eric |Kaufman, RtHon Gerald | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dean, Joseph (Leeds West) |Kilfedder, JamesA. | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dewar,Donald |Kilroy-Silk, Robert | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dixon, Donald |Kinnock,Neil | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dobson, Frank |Lamborn, Harry | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dormand,Jack |Lamond,James | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Douglas,Dick |Leadbitter,Ted | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dubs,Alfred |Leighton,Ronald | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Duffy, A. E. P. |Lestor, Miss Joan | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dunnett,Jack |Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dunwoody, Hon MrsG. |Litherland,Robert | --------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- |Lofthouse, Geoffrey |Ryman,John | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Lyon,Alexander(York) |Sever,John | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Lyons, Edward (Bradf'dW) |Sheerman, Barry | ----------------------------------------------------------- |McCartney,Hugh |Sheldon, RtHon R. | ----------------------------------------------------------- |McDonald,DrOonagh |Shore, Rt Hon Peter | ----------------------------------------------------------- |McGuire, Michael (Ince) |Short, Mrs Renée | ----------------------------------------------------------- |McKay, Allen (Penistone) |Silkin, RtHon S.C. (Dulwich)| ----------------------------------------------------------- |McKelvey,William |Silverman,Julius | ----------------------------------------------------------- |MacKenzie, Rt Hon Gregor |Skinner,Dennis | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Maclennan, Robert |Smith, Rt Hon J. (N Lanark) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |McNamara,Kevin |Snape, Peter | ----------------------------------------------------------- |McTaggart, Robert |Soley,Clive | ----------------------------------------------------------- |McWilliam,John |Spearing,Nigel | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Marks,Kenneth |Spriggs,Leslie | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Marshall,D(G'gowS'ton) |Stallard.A.W. | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Marshall, Jim (LeicesterS) |Stewart, Rt Hon D. (W Isles)| ----------------------------------------------------------- |Martin,M(G'gowS'burn) |Stoddart, David | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Maxton, John |Stott, Roger | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Maynard, MissJoan |Straw, Jack | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Meacher,Michael |Summerskill,HonDrShirley | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Mikardo,Ian |Thomas,Jeffrey(Abertillery) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Millan,RtHonBruce |Thomas, DrR. (Carmarthen) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Miller, Dr M.S. (E Kilbride)|Thorne, Stan (PrestonSouth) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Mitchell, Austin (Grimsby) |Tilley,John | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Morris, RtHonA. (W'shawe) |Tinn,James | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Morris, Rt Hon C. (O'shaw) |Urwin, RtHon Tom | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Morris, RtHon J. (Aberavon) |Varley, RtHon Eric G. | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Morton,George |Wainwright.E.(DearneV) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Moyle, RtHon Roland |Walker, RtHonH.(D'caster) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon |Watkins,David | ----------------------------------------------------------- |O'Neill,Martin |Weetch,Ken | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Palmer,Arthur |Welsh,Michael | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Park, George |White, Frank R. | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Powell, Raymond (Ogmore) |White,J.(G'gowPollok) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Price, C. (Lewisham W) |Whitlock,William | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Race, Reg |Williams, Rt Hon A.(S'sea W)| ----------------------------------------------------------- |Radice, Giles |Wilson, Gordon (DundeeE) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Rees, Rt Hon M (Leeds S) |Wilson, William (C'trySE) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Richardson,Jo |Winnick,David | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Roberts, Albert (Normanton) |Woodall,Alec | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Roberts, Ernest (Hackney N) |Woolmer,Kenneth | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock) |Wright,Sheila | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Robertson,George |Young, David (BoltonE) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Robinson, G. (Coventry NW) | | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Rooker.J. W. |Tellers for the Ayes: | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Roper,John |Mr. James Hamilton and | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Ross, Ernest (Dundee West) |Dr. Edmund Marshall. | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Rowlands,Ted | | ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ |Aitken,Jonathan |Brittan,Rt. Hon. Leon | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Alexander,Richard |Brooke, Hon Peter | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Alison, RtHonMichael |Brotherton,Michael | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Ancram, Michael |Brown, Michael(Brigg&Sc'n)| ------------------------------------------------------------ |Arnold,Tom |Bruce-Gardyne,John | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Aspinwall,Jack |Bryan, Sir Paul | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Atkins, Robert(PrestonN) |Buchanan-Smith, Rt. Hon. A. | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Atkinson, David (B'm'th,E) |Buck,Antony | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Baker, Kenneth (St.M'bone) |Budgen,Nick | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Baker, Nicholas (N Dorset) |Bulmer,Esmond | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Banks,Robert |Burden,SirFrederick | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Beaumont-Dark,Anthony |Cadbury,Jocelyn | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Bendall,Vivian |Carlisle, John (Luton West) | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Bennett,SirFrederic (T'bay)|Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Benyon.Thomas (A'don) |Carlisle, Rt Hon M. (R'c'n) | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Benyon.W .(Buckingham) |Chalker, Mrs. Lynda | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Berry, Hon Anthony |Chapman,Sydney | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Best, Keith |Churchill,W.S. | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Bevan,DavidGilroy |Clark, Sir W. (Croydon S) | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Biffen, RtHon John |Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe) | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Biggs-Davison,SirJohn |Clegg,SirWalter | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Blackburn,John |Cockeram,Eric | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Blaker,Peter |Colvin, Michael | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Bonsor,SirNicholas |Cope,John | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Bottomley, Peter (W'wichW) |Cormack, Patrick | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Bowden,Andrew |Corrie,John | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Boyson,Dr Rhodes |Costain,SirAlbert | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Braine,SirBernard |Cranborne,Viscount | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Bright,Graham |Critchley,Julian | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Brinton,Tim |Crouch,David | ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dean, Paul (North Somerset) |Lang, Ian | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dickens.Geoffrey |Langford-Holt,SirJohn | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dorrell,Stephen |Latham,Michael | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Douglas-Hamilton,LordJ. |Lawrence, Ivan | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dover,Denshore |Lawson, Rt Hon Nigel | --------------------------------------------------------------- |du Cann, Rt Hon Edward |Lee, John | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dunlop,John |LeMarchant, Spencer | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dunn, Robert(Dartford) |Lennox-Boyd,HonMark | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Durant,Tony |Lester, Jim (Beeston) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Dykes, Hugh |Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Eden, RtHon Sir John |Lloyd, Ian (Havant & W'loo)| --------------------------------------------------------------- |Edwards, Rt Hon N. (P'broke) |Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Eggar,Tim |Loveridge,john | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Emery, Sir Peter |Luce,Richard | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Eyre,Reginald |Lyell,Nicholas | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Fairgrieve,SirRussell |McCrindle,Robert | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Faith, MrsSheila |Macfarlane,Neil | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Farr,John |MacGregor,John | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Fell,SirAnthony |MacKay, John (Argyll) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Fenner, Mrs Peggy |Macmillan,RtHonM. | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Finsberg,Geoffrey |McNair-Wilson.M. (N'bury) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Fisher, SirNigel |McNair-Wilson, P. (New F'st) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Fletcher, A. (Ed'nb'ghN) |McQuarrie,Albert | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Fletcher-Cooke,SirCharles |Madel, David | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Fookes, Miss Janet |Major,John | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Forman, Nigel |Marland,Paul | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Fowler, RtHon Norman |Marlow,Antony | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Fry, Peter |Marshall, Michael (Arundel) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Gardiner,George(Reigate) |Mates,Michael | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Gardner, Edward (S Fylde) |Maude, Rt Hon Sir Angus | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Garel-Jones,Tristan |Mawhinney,DrBrian | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Gilmour, RtHon Sir Ian |Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Glyn, DrAlan |Mayhew, Patrick | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Goodhart,SirPhilip |Mellor,David | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Goodhew,SirVictor |Miller,Hal(B'grove) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Goodlad,Alastair |Mills, Iain(Meriden) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Gorst,John |Mills, Peter (West Devon) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Gow, Ian |Miscampbell, Norman | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Grant, Anthony (HarrowC) |Moate,Roger | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Greenway, Harry |Monro,SirHector | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Grieve, Percy |Montgomery, Fergus | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Griffiths, E. (B'ySt. Edm'ds)|Morgan,Geraint | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Griffiths,Peter Portsm'thN) |Morrison, HonC. (Devizes) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Grist, Ian |Morrison, Hon P. (Chester) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Grylls,Michael |Mudd,David | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Gummer,JohnSelwyn |Neale,Gerrard | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hamilton, Hon A. |Needham,Richard | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hamilton,Michael (Salisbury) |Nelson,Anthony | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hampson,DrKeith |Neubert,Michael | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hannam,John |Newton,Tony | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Haselhurst,Alan |Nott, RtHon John | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hastings,Stephen |Oppenheim, Rt Hon Mrs S. | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael |Osborn,John | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hawkins,Paul |Page, John (Harrow, West) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hawksley, Warren |Page, Richard (SW Herts) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hayhoe, Barney |Parkinson, RtHonCecil | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Heddle,John |Parris, Matthew | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Heseltine, RtHon Michael |Patten, Christopher(Bath) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hicks,Robert |Patten, John (Oxford) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L. |Pattie,Geoffrey | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hill,James |Pawsey, James | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hogg,HonDouglas(Gr'th'm) |Percival,Sirlan | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Holland,Philip(Carlton) |Peyton, RtHon John | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hordern, Peter |Pink, R.Bonner | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Howe, RtHonSirGeoffrey |Pollock,Alexander | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Howell, Rt Hon D. (G'ldf'd) |Porter,Barry | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Howell, Ralph (NNorfolk) |Price, SirDavid (Eastleigh) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hunt, David (Wirral) |Proctor, K. Harvey | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Hunt,John(Ravensbourne) |Raison, RtHon Timothy | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Irving,Charles(Cheltenham) |Rathbone,Tim | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Jenkin, RtHon Patrick |Rees, Peter (Dover and Deal) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Jessel,Toby |Rees-Davies, W. R. | --------------------------------------------------------------- |JohnsonSmith,Geoffrey |Renton,Tim | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Jopling, RtHon Michael |RhodesJames, Robert | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Joseph, RtHon Sir Keith |Ridley,HonNicholas | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Kaberry,SirDonald |Ridsdale,SirJulian | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Kershaw, Sir Anthony |Rifkind,Malcolm | --------------------------------------------------------------- |King, RtHon Tom |Roberts, M. (Cardiff NW) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Knight,MrsJill |Roberts, Wyn (Conway) | --------------------------------------------------------------- |Knox, David |Rossi, Hugh | --------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- |Rost, Peter |Townend, John (Bridlington) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Sainsbury, Hon Timothy |Townsend, Cyril D, (B'heath)| ----------------------------------------------------------- |St. John-Stevas, Rt Hon N. |Trippier, David | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Shaw, Giles (Pudsey) |Trotter, Neville | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Shaw, Michael (Scarborough) |van Straubenzee, Sir W. | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Shelton, William (Streatham)|Vaughan, Dr Gerard | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Shepherd, Colin (Hereford) |Viggers, Peter | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Shepherd, Richard |Waddington, David | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Shersby, Michael |Wakeham, John | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Silvester, Fred |Waldegrave, Hon William | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Sims, Roger |Walker, Rt Hon P.(W'cester) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Skeet, T. H. H. |Walker, B. (Perth) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Smith, Dudley |Wall, Sir Patrick | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Speed, Keith |Waller, Gary | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Speller, Tony |Walters, Dennis | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Spicer, Jim (West Dorset) |Ward, John | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Spicer, Michael (S Worcs) |Warren, Kenneth | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Squire, Robin |Watson, John | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Stainton, Keith |Wells, Bowen | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Stanbrook, Ivor |Wells, John (Maidstone) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Stanley, John |Wheeler, John | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Steen, Anthony |Whitney, Raymond | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Stevens, Martin |Wickenden, Keith | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Stewart, A.(E Renfrewshire) |Wiggin, Jerry | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Stewart, Ian (Hitchin) |Wilkinson, John | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Stokes, John |Williams, D.(Montgomery) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Stradling Thomas, J. |Winterton, Nicholas | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Tapsell, Peter |Wolfson, Mark | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Tebbit, Rt Hon Norman |Young, Sir George (Acton) | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Temple-Morris, Peter |Younger, Rt Hon George | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Thatcher, Rt Hon Mrs M. | | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Thomas, Rt Hon Peter |Tellers for the Noes: | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Thompson, Donald |Mr. Carol Mather and | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Thorne, Neil (Ilford South) |Mr. Robert Boscawen. | ----------------------------------------------------------- |Thornton, Malcolm | | ----------------------------------------------------------- Question accordingly negatived. Falkland Islands 10.56 pm The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. John Nott) On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I should like to make a statement. Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bernard Weatherill) Order. Has the Secretary of State the leave of the House to make a statement? Hon. Members Aye. Mr. Nott In my statement earlier today, I said that we must expect further Argentine attacks on our forces. I deeply regret now to have to inform the House of such attacks. In the course of its duties within the total exclusion zone around the Falkland Islands, HMS "Sheffield", a type 42 destroyer, was attacked and hit late this afternoon by an Argentine missile. The ship caught fire, which spread out of control. The order was then given to abandon ship. There were accompanying vessels in the immediate area which picked up those who had abandoned ship. Nearly all the ships's company and the captain are accounted for. However, I regret to say that initial indications are that 12 men are missing and there are likely to be other casualties. Communications with the operational area are difficult at present and this information must be treated as provisional until further reports are received. Next of kin will, of course, be informed first as soon as full details are received. Further air operations were also conducted over the Falkland Islands today. In the course of Sea Harrier attacks, one of our aircraft was shot down. The pilot has been killed. His name will be announced after we have confirmation that his next of kin have been informed. All the other Sea Harriers returned safely. The task force is continuing with its operations as planned. Mr. Michael Foot (Ebbw Vale) May I first thank the Leader of the House for having responded to many of the requests from hon. Members that a statement should be made? May I also thank the Secretary of State for Defence for coming to the House to make the statement? As I am sure we all agree, it contains grave and tragic news. All of us deeply deplore the fact that the right hon. Gentleman should have had to come to the House to make it. When I first heard the news, I thought that it was right that the House should wait for a while because the next of kin had not yet been informed. That is absolutely necessary as the next stage. For the House to make the right judgment about this matter, it is better that we should have a statement tomorrow. We can consider that, what the Government may say and what we may say. I do not seek in any sense, in this moment of what could be a tragedy for some of our people, to make any political comments, but I hope that tomorrow the Government will be prepared to make a statement on the whole matter. We can discuss through the usual channels whether we should have a debate. There are implications that arise and reflect on some of the things that have been said in the debates over the past few days and to which some of us referred in the debate last Thursday. But I suggest that the best course for the House is that the Secretary of State or perhaps the Prime Minister should come to the House tomorrow and make a further statement in the full light of all these matters. That is the best way in which the House of Commons can give its judgment on the whole question. Mr. Nott I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his remarks. It is of course grave and tragic news; I entirely agree with him. I am sure that the Government will wish to make a statement tomorrow. Mr. John Wells (Maidstone) One cannot help feeling that the Leader of the Opposition is the prize hypocrite on this occasion. [Interruption.] Mr. Deputy Speaker Order. The hon. Member must address his question to the Secretary of State. Mr. Wells rose—— Hon. Members Withdraw. Mr. Deputy Speaker Order. And before he does so, will he please withdraw the comment that he made? Mr. Wells I am asked to withdraw my remark about the Leader of the Opposition. I must say to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State that I had the privilege—— Hon. Members Withdraw. Mr. Deputy Speaker Order. The hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. Wells) must please withdraw the comment that he made. Mr. Wells I gladly withdraw the precise word, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I must say to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence that it is quite impossible for this House to conduct a debate across the Dispatch Box point by point in a conflict like this. Therefore, the remark of the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition——[HON. MEMBERS: Question.] May I put this to my right hon. Friend? Is it not right that we cannot debate a conflict like this point by point across the Dispatch Box? We must see it in the broader issue. While we cannot accept—— Hon. Members Sit down. Mr. Deputy Speaker Order. Mr. Wells While we cannot accept the views of the Opposition, we appreciate most deeply my right hon. Friend's expression of sympathy with the loss of life of our own men. Mr. Nott I would say to my hon. Friend that we shall of course keep the House informed as best we can. As soon as further details come in, we shall do that. Mr. Russell Johnston (Inverness) Is the Minister aware that at this moment we would simply like to put on record our deep sympathy with the relatives and friends of those who have lost their lives in this tragic way? Mr. Nott I thank the hon. Gentleman for his remarks. I am sure that the whole House shares his sentiments. Mr. Antony Buck (Colchester) Does my right hon. Friend accept that the whole House is bitterly distressed at what he has had to announce? Does he agree that probably the best thing, in the interests of all of us, is that we should pause on it until we can talk about it tomorrow, having thought about what has happened here? It is always difficult when one is opposing Fascist dictators, but let us think on it. I respectfully suggest, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that that might be the best course for the House to take. Mr. Nott I thank my hon. and learned Friend. We shall make a further statement tomorrow, and I hope that we shall be in a position to give more details then. Dr. John Gilbert (Dudley, East) Can the Secretary of State tell the House now whether the missile was launched from aircraft or from surface ships? Mr. Nott I cannot say at the moment that there can be any certainty about that. It probably was an air-launched missile, but I would rather wait until tomorrow, until I get details of that kind. Mr. Peter Viggers (Gosport) As a Member with a constituency closely involved with the task force. may I say to my right hon. Friend that the men concerned and their families knew the issues involved and knew the risks as well, and this increases our respect for their courage and determination? Mr. Nott I thank my hon. Friend for that remark. Mr. A. E. P. Duffy (Sheffield, Attercliffe) Is the Secretary of State aware that the city of Sheffield took a deep pride in this fine ship, this lead ship of the type 42 class of destroyer, as indeed it took a deep pride in its predecessor, which also filled a distinguished role in the Second World War? I am confident that the people of the city would want one of their Members, who has had the good fortune to be called by you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to express their deep sympathy with the families of those who may yet prove to be casualties. Mr. Nott I am sure that the hon. Gentleman's remarks will be much appreciated. She is the name ship of the "Sheffield" class of destroyer and was the first of her class to be launched. I am sure we all appreciate what the hon. Gentleman said. Mr. Michael Mates (Petersfield) Will my right hon. Friend accept that, tragic though the current situation is, it was unrealistic for anyone to expect that we could embark on this particular and very necessary course without suffering casualties? Will my right hon. Friend further accept that, provided that the Government neither over-react to this tragedy nor in any way weaken their resolve on the course they have set out on, they will have, and will deserve, the respect of the House and of the country? Mr. Nott It is the case that there has been a naval battle, if I can describe it as that, going on for several days and casualties to both ships and men are very likely to occur in that situation; so I agree with my hon. Friend in that respect. Mr. Ian Mikardo (Bethnal Green and Bow) In the midst of the grief which we all share and which has been expressed from both sides of the House, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the Prime Minister is still inviting us all to rejoice, rejoice? Mr. Nott I shall not comment on that matter, but I am afraid that I must make one correction to the remarks I made earlier. I said in making my statement that initial indications were that 12 men were missing. I regret to say that the latest news, which I have just had, is rather worse. It is that the number of deaths may be as high as 30. But we really do not have sufficient information at this stage to give firm news to the House, and that is why I think it is better to wait until tomorrow. Mr. Churchill (Stretford) On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. In view of the tragic nature of the news that has been announced by the Secretary of State and the undertaking that there is to be a further statement tomorrow, would it not be better if we moved on to other business? Mr. Deputy Speaker I sense that that is indeed the mood of the House. I therefore propose to call two more Members from each side of the House. Mr. John Stokes (Halesowen and Stourbridge) Is my right hon. Friend aware that the eyes of the nation are upon this House tonight? As someone who has been here for only 12 years but who spent six years fighting in the war, I found tonight some signs of panic on both sides of the House. May I assure my right hon. Friend that those signs are only temporary and I am sure that tomorrow the House will be resolved that we should carry through what the Government are determined to do. Mr. Nott I have noted my hon. Friend's remarks. I would not wish to comment on them tonight. Mr. John Roper (Farnworth) Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that from this Bench we would wish to associate ourselves with the sympathy that has been expressed with the families of those involved in these tragic events? We await with concern a further ministerial statement tomorrow. Mr. Nott I thank the hon. Gentleman. Mr. Bill Walker (Perth and East Perthshire) Does my right hon. Friend agree that when many thousands of our Service men are on the high seas with the task force we should be showing our united support for them? The last thing that we should be doing is trying to put a series of questions that cannot find answers because the answers are not available. Mr. Nott I very much agree with my hon. Friend. Mr. Leo Abse (Pontypool) We all share similar thoughts in this tragedy and we are profoundly concerned that further tragedies should not take place. Can we have the assurance that in the statement that will be made there will be no attempt on the part of the Government to compound the initial error that brought us to this situation and left the islands without defence? Can we be assured also that in the light of our obvious vulnerability there will be no absurd reiterations of the inviolability of sovereignty without considering other aspects? Will we be told that our men will not be put to further risks by being sent by the thousands in the "QE2" into areas where quite clearly there could be further tragedies and further deaths? We shall be expecting far more resilience and far more elasticity than we have experienced so far from this Government. Mr. Nott The operation has been going on for several weeks and there has been only one fatal accident on the way down and one other accident. This has been due very largely to the great skill of the men taking part. The hon. Gentleman's other remarks were of a wider nature and I do not think that it is appropriate for me to comment on them tonight. Several Hon. Members rose—— Mr. Deputy Speaker Order. I think that it would be in the best interests of the House and of the nation that we await a further statement tomorrow. We shall now return to the consideration of the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Bill. Local Government And Planning (Scotland) Bill Mr. Millan On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I beg to move, That further consideration of the Bill be now adjourned. In view of the deep feelings that have been aroused by what has happened and what has been said in the House, I think that it would be sensible, if the Government agree, to adjourn consideration of the Bill. I hope that the Government will accept the proposition. The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. George Younger) I appreciate what the right hon. Gentleman has said and that it is difficult for the House to get down to normal business at a time like this. However, I do not see that any purpose is served by—[Interruption.] Mr. Deputy Speaker Order. The Secretary of State has not even finished his sentence. Mr. Younger Whether it is agreed or not, I think that I am entitled to express a view. I do not think that we serve any purpose in the House by declining to do our normal duty because something like this has occurred. I do not think that many of those involved in the operations would think much of us if all we could do was give up our normal business. Mr. David Ennals (Norwich, North) Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker—— Mr. Deputy Speaker Order. It is not a point of order. It is a debatable motion. Mr. Ennals The Leader of the House showed great sympathy and understanding when representations were made to him earlier. Great sympathy was also shown by the Secretary of State for Defence in coming to the House to make a statement. It would, therefore, be quite inappropriate for the House to continue with the debate. I hope that the Leader of the House will now make a statement. Sir John Eden (Bournemouth, West) Perhaps my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has not been here throughout today's debate. Possibly, after due consideration, he will agree that it would be sensible, in view of present circumstances, for today's business to be stood over until a later date. Will he be good enough, in the light of the feelings that are being expressed on both sides of the House, to reconsider what he has just said? Mr. William Hamilton (Fife, Central) I understand that the motion is debatable. I should therefore like to make a speech. I am sorry that the Secretary of State for Scotland should have responded so insensitively to the motion moved by my right hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Milian). I belong to the mining community. Whenever a miner was killed in a pit, the pit was suspended immediately out of respect to the family and the man concerned. The House would show the deepest form of respect for the people who have been bereaved by the maladministration of the Government if it were to adjourn until tomorrow. It is quite clear that the House will no longer be interested in the important subject that we have been discussing today. It behoves the Leader of the House to sense the feeling of the House that has been expressed on both sides and to accept the motion forthwith. Mr. Biffen On certain occasions the fewest words are perhaps the most eloquent. The motion has been moved. I suggest that it be accepted. Question put and agreed to. Further consideration of the Bill adjourned. Bill, as amended in the Standing Committee, to be further considered tomorrow. Taking Of Hostages Bill Lords Order for Second Reading read. Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 66 (Second Reading Committees), That the Bill be now read a Second time. Question agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time. Bill committed to a Standing Committee pursuarr to Standing Order No. 40 (Committal of Bills). Merchant Shipping (Liner Conferences) Bill Order for Second Reading read. Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 66 (Second Reading Committees), That the Bill be now read a Second time. Question agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time. Bill commited to a Standing Committee pursuant to Standing Order No. 40 (Committal of Bills). Statutory Instruments, &C Motion made, and Question put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c.) Sea Fisheries That the Fish Producers' Organizations (Formation Grants) Scheme 1982 (S.I. 1982, No. 498), a copy of which was laid before this House on 1st April, be approved.— [Mr. Lang.] Question agreed to. Deer (Amendment) (Scotland) Money Queen's Recommendation having been signified— Resolved, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to amend the Deer (Scotland) Act 1959 and certain related enactments, it is expedient to authorise— (1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any sums required by the said Act of the present Session to be imid; and(2) the payment of any increase attributable to that Actin the sums payable out of money so provided under any other enactment. —[Mr. Lang.] School Transport (Clwyd) Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.— [Mr. Lang.] 11.19 pm Mr. Tom Ellis (Wrexham) I am pleased to have the opportunity to raise the subject of the rate support grant settlement and its effect on education in Clwyd. I wish to look at the effect of the settlement on a narrow sector of education in Clwyd—the transport of children to school. Children must be able to get to school. Five or six villages in the county—Coedpoeth, Broughton, Penyfordd, Brynleg and so on—are two or three miles from schools. Bus passes have been withdrawn. Hundreds of children are involved. The county council took the decision last year: the bus passes were to cease to operate from 1 January this year. Parents raised a considerable protest and the council deferred the decision. It came into effect about a fortnight ago at the beginning of the summer term. Further protests have taken place. At least 500 schoolchildren are not now attending lessons. That is serious. Let me explain what is behind the parents' decision. The two basic issues are the danger of children walking to school and the expense of public transport fares. When the Education Act 1944 was passed, road conditions were very different. In a large city, transport may move at only 15 or 20 miles an hour. The road from Coedpoeth to Wrexham is a trunk road and traffic travels on it at 50 or 60 miles an hour. A considerable length of it has no footpath. Particularly in the winter, when children travel home after dark, there are considerable dangers. Fares are expensive. I live in a rural area. I tend to use my motor car and have not used buses for years. I had not appreciated the expense of public transport. The fare to school and back is between 90p and £1·20 a day or £5 or £6 a week. Families with three children would have a bill of between £15 and £16 a week or £70 a month. I give one example of a family with a total income of £78 weekly. The man is unemployed. I hope that the Minister realises that I am referring to an area with a high unemployment rate of more than 20 per cent. The family have three children at school. If the parents are to pay for their public transport to school, about one-fifth of the £78—about £16—will be paid out. I ask the Minister to pause and consider how serious that is, and how substantial a proportion of £78 that represents. I can say with a fair certainty of being correct that there is not one child attending Eton College—perhaps one of the most distinguished of public schools—whose parent spends one-fifth of his income to send his child to that college. I do not know the annual fees for Eton, but assuming that they are £5,000 I doubt whether parents with children at Eton are earning less than £25,000 annually. It is, therefore, costing an unemployed parent in my constituency proportionately more to send his children to school in Wrexham than it costs a parent to send his son to Eton College. I stress to the Minister that the parents involved are not given to emotional hot air, and so on. They are serious-minded, sincere people who are faced with a genuine problem. This was put graphically to me by a mother who said that in no circumstances would she allow her child to walk the 2¾ miles along this busy road. She said that she would rather have an uneducated child than a dead child. Walking to school was, therefore, ruled out—in my view, rightly so. The mother added that she simply did not have the money for public transport and that she could not raise the money. The problem is intractable for that mother. The present position is that her child is not attending the school in Wrexham but, in common with hundreds of other children, is attending makeshift classes that the parents have arranged. That is the scale of the problem. One might have thought that perhaps the Department of Health and Social Security could help. I do not advocate that parents should be obliged to go to the Department of Health and Social Security to get their children to school, but the strange fact is that the Department is not entitled to help. I have a letter from the Welsh branch of the Department of Health and Social Security that puts the matters in a nutshell. The letter states: "Regulation 4 of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations 1980 sets out the day-to-day living expenses which are provided for in the basic scale rates." One of these expenses is normal travel costs, which one might consider applies to fares to and from school. The letter adds that regulation 11 provides for additions to be made to the normal requirements for certain specified expenses, but school fares are not included. In addition, regulation 6(2) of the Supplementary Benefit (Single Payments) Regulations 1981 specifically precludes the making of a single payment for travelling expenses to or from school. Therefore, the Department of Health and Social Security regards the question as being one for the Department of Education and Science and for the local education authorities. The local education authority—in this case the Clwyd education authority—takes the view that this is a matter for the Government. The Minister will no doubt tell me that the matter is one for the county council. So we have the authorities—the Government, the Welsh Office and the county council—each saying that the matter is of no concern to them. The plain fact is that after 112 years of universal free education in this country we have now reached the position in Clwyd where many children no longer enjoy the right to universal free education. That is the reality of the situation. The education authority is quite clear in its view. I have here a letter from the chief officer dated 8 April. It says: "The county council contend that responsibility for meeting the additional costs devolving upon parents lies with central Government" despite the various points made in the correspondence. The letter continues: "All the foregoing is of national concern to both parents and education authorities. It does not affect our urgent review of the local situation. Whether there is something that Clwyd can do on a county basis to assist less well off parents is something we have under the most active consideration". I understand that the county council proposed that a small proportion of the total number of parents would receive special grants, but this has been rejected by the great bulk of parents as just tinkering with the problem and not getting down to the matter proper. The council has made an estimate. I am not clear how it has been reached, but I suspect that it was merely a question of counting all the children and multiplying by the average fare or whatever. The county council estimates that to cater for every child in the county of Clwyd who wishes to travel by public transport would cost about £1·6 million. The council says that it does not have the money. I know that the county council has a discretionary right to spend moneys on a range of services. I understand that it makes a grant of about £1·4 million to rural buses, yet quite often those buses travel the rural roads of Clwyd pretty well empty. One could argue that the council should alter its list of priorities and uprate the priority of the school children so that the buses are at least fully used. More use would then be made of the money spent by the council. That is a pretty short-term answer to a real problem. It will become bigger and bigger, and many other councils will gradually face the same kind of problem. Therefore, I trust that the Welsh Office will seriously look at this problem, because it is a real one of considerable importance. In the immediate future, I hope that it will make available a specific grant for this purpose. I do not think that anything like £1·6 million is required to deal with the problem, which affects those children who have had bus passes and have had them withdrawn. Those who have never experienced the provision of free bus services are not really concerned. This applies to people living in certain areas of the country. My guess is that the amount of money involved would be substantially less than the £1·6 million estimate of the county council. I hope that a specific grant will be made, just as recently a grant was made from the council's general budget in respect of education for children over 16. Secondly, in the longer term I hope that the Government will consider the whole question of the need for these schools, particularly in Wrexham where we have a sixth form college. In my opinion, where a sixth form college exists, there is hardly a need to have schools of 1,100 or 1,200 pupils up to the fifth form. I should have thought that schools with 300 to 500 pupils could become viable units. If that is so, schools could be located as they were a few years ago—in the villages that they used to serve—instead of being centrally positioned in towns. I have raised a serious problem, and I hope that the Minister will reveal at least a glimmer of light. 11.34 pm The Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Michael Roberts) The hon. Member for Wrexham (Mr. Ellis) is deeply concerned about the problem that he has raised, as are the parents of many of the children in his constituency. Therefore, I shall state the facts involved. The level of local authority expenditure on individual services has to be considered in the context of the whole rate support grant settlement for 1982–83. The RSG settlement is a matter of major importance not simply in relation to individual services and to the local authorities concerned but for the Government and the country as a whole. Public expenditure has to be kept to a level that the nation can afford. Local authority expenditure accounts for a substantial proportion of total public expenditure and it cannot be exempted from playing its part. The rate support grant settlement for 1982–83 is a very fair and generous one for Welsh local authorities. The £94 million increase on the settlement provision for current expenditure compared with 1981–82 should enable local authorities to maintain their services at broadly the same level as was envisaged in last year's RSG settlement. Not only was the current expenditure provision of the 1982–83 settlement £94 million—9·1 per cent. —higher than the RSG settlement for 1981–82 but also the amount of grant increased by £72 million—8·3 per cent. —over that for 1981–82. As a result of the generous settlement Eind our decision to reduce the level of domestic rate relief to 18½p in the pound, local authorities have been able to limit their general rate increase to only 4½ per cent. on average-the lowest increase for very many years. Clwyd county council has kept its precept unchanged from that of 1981–82. The rate support grant is of course unhypothecated, and therefore the amount spent on the education service as compared with other county councils is solely a matter for the county council concerned to determine for itself. It is free to decide its priorities and the level of expenditure on each of the services which is appropriate to the circumstances. If a local authority chooses to protect one service at the expense of another, that is a matter on which I cannot comment, nor would I wish to intervene. The concern of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and myself is that local authorities in aggregate do not exceed the total expenditure provision which underlies the RSG settlement. Having said that we are mainly concerned about the aggregate level of expenditure, I should add that Clwyd county council has been able to benefit from the generally fair settlement. The county's share of total grant-related expenditure is virtually unchanged from last year. Although grant-related expenditure is not a precise measure of an individual authority's level of expenditure, the fact is that Clwyd county council has maintained its position and shared in the general benefit. There are some who continue to repeat the statement that local authority services are being savagely reduced because of the Government's action. What are the facts? The facts are that on the basis of the latest estimate there has been no reduction in local authority spending in Wales in real terms between 1977–78 and the last financial year. Where, then, are the draconian reductions in Welsh local authority services, given the very severe economic circumstances the country has had to face in a period of world recession and massive increases in oil costs? I do not remember Opposition Members complaining in 1977 that local authority services were grossly under-funded. I would also wish to remind hon. Members that since that time the largest single sector of local authority expenditure—education—has seen a fall in the number of pupils in Wales by 40,000, a reduction of nearly 8 per cent. It must be said that, if pay and price increases exceed the levels allowed for in the settlement, authorities will be expected to make compensating savings within their budgets. That discipline applies to local authorities as it does to central Government. The Government consider that savings can be achieved through increased efficiency and effectiveness without authorities resorting to reducing services. However, individual authorities may decide that a reduction in service levels is necessary to keep within the Government's expenditure guideline. Their choice is taken in the full knowledge of local needs and circumstances and is not dictated by the Government. Local authority expenditure in 1982–83 is, however, being closely monitored and the Secretary of State has emphasised that, if the Wales RSG aggregate level of expenditure for the year is exceeded, he will need to withhold grant. In the event that it becomes necessary to withhold grant, the Secretary of State has made it clear that he will seek as far as possible to protect those authorities which have made an effort to keep their expenditure at a reasonable level. The hon. Gentleman raised the question of difficulties which a number of parents in his constituency and, more widely, in other parts of Clwyd, are facing in paying for the transport of their children to school following the recent decision by Clwyd local education authority to withdraw discretionary school transport from certain groups of parents in the county. I would not dispute his figures—the hon. Gentleman knows the local circumstances—and I would make the point to him that I am not unsympathetic to parents who find themselves in such a position. However, I would like to put to him and to parents, on whose behalf he has spoken tonight, a certain number of points and I hope that in so doing I shall make our position quite clear. First, this is without a shadow of doubt a local government matter in that it is for local authorities to determine their own policies on school transport within the framework of the law. This law provides in effect that local authorities must provide free transport, or its equivalent, from a child's home to the nearest suitable school when a child lives more than three miles away if it is aged 8 or over, or two miles away if it is under 8. That is the statutory position and I know of no authority which is failing in its statutory duty in this regard. If children live closer to school, then the authority may, at its discretion, assist with transport and, of course, it may also give the same assistance if parents choose a school which is not the nearest suitable school for religious or other reasons. But transport provided in such circumstances is entirely discretionary. That is the first point I wish to stress to the hon. Gentleman. The authority may provide transport or they may take it away according to their judgment of local needs and circumstances. Of course, it is very helpful, if you are a parent living some distance from a school, to have your child's travel provided by the local authority. But I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that there should be limits to the beneficence of local authorities in this matter. Were all children to be provided with free transport irrespective of where they lived, the cost would be enormous and a serious strain on the resources available for education. Clearly, that could not be supported and it must therefore be right for parents to take responsibility for getting their children to school where the distances involved are not excessive. Let us remember that it is not necessary always to contemplate paying for bus fares. Over these distances it is not unreasonable in many cases, if not in all, to expect children to walk or to cycle to school. It would not be reasonable to expect children to walk or cycle more than three miles, which is why the law provides that transport over this distance should be free. That is my second point—that it is entirely right for parents to have certain obligations placed upon them for getting their own children to school. It is wrong to present, as the hon. Gentleman has done, this action by Clwyd local education authority as a direct result of the restrictions on public expenditure which the Government are setting in the course of returning the economy to a sound base. How a local authority decides to spend its resources is, within the framework of the law, entirely a matter for it alone to decide and, if authorities like Clwyd should decide that there is more value in spending their resources on books and teachers, which are central to the education system, than on such ancillary services as school meals and school transport, this is entirely a matter for them. Here we come to a most vital point. I understand that to make transport provision within the Clwyd local education authority which would cater not just for the children of parents who have lost their former free school transport for their children but for the children of other parents who live equal distances from schools in the county—to make this provision based on providing free school transport over distances of two miles and one mile instead of the statutory distances of three miles and two miles—would cost Clwyd an extra £1·6 million. That is a lot of money and the hon. Gentleman must say from where it should be found if he wishes to see this provision made. The £1·6 million is the equivalent of approximately 200 teachers. Would it be sensible to sack 200 teachers to provide more school transport? That £1·6 million is the product, approximately, in Clwyd of a 5p rate. Is the hon. Gentleman suggesting that rates in Clwyd should go up by this amount with the effect that that would have on industry and employment? Or is he suggesting that the money should come from the education budget? Again, were it to come from the education budget, we cannot escape the decision as to whether that money, if it could be made available—and I am not suggesting for a moment that it can—would be better employed in providing books and teachers rather than on providing school transport. Decisions on its use of resources are for the county council to consider, but it is right for me to make it clear that the issues involved are not all straightforward ones. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will know that Clwyd local education authority already spends heavily on school transport—a total of nearly £3·5 million each year. I am sure that he also realises the large number of children who have to 'ravel to school in that largely rural county. He will know that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of parents in the county who are already paying for school transport for a distance of under three miles to enable their children to get to school. Such parents far outnumber the relatively few from whom this transport concession has been withdrawn. Does the hon. Gentleman think it right that certain groups of parents within the county should be The Clwyd education committee decided that there should be equal treatment for all parents in the county on the school transport issue and this decision was endorsed by the whole Clwyd county council. I understand that it is determined that, if any future changes are to be made in school transport policy, they should apply to all groups of parents in the county. This policy was confirmed by a full meeting of the Clwyd education committee this morning. I am sure that Clwyd county council is not in any way insensitive, or unsympathetic, to the real difficulties facing some parents from whom this concession has been withdrawn, and I understand that Clwyd has said that it will provide free transport for children living anywhere in the county who have to travel more than 2½ miles to school if their parents are in receipt of certain benefits. This concession is designed to assist those who are least able to cope with their present difficulty, in a constructive and helpful manner that is fair to all. The hon. Gentleman raised the question of undertakings which had been given to the parents. I recognise that undertakings made by a pre-existing authority at a time of different economic and social circumstances may in some cases cause difficulties for the successor authorities—— The Question having been proposed after Ten o'clock, and the debate having continued for half an hour, MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER adjourned the House without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order. Adjourned at eleven minutes to Twelve o'clock.