1. First time since 1983 without Willie Whitelaw as Leader. Pay an almighty tribute to him for his unfailing wisdom & loyalty. How magnificently John Belstead has carried out the task of Leader. And what a lot we owe to Bertie Denham and his Whips. The team work of all front bench has been excellent.
2. Fully aware of the immense work everyone has put in. 18 Bills already passed. So many people have stayed long hours including some of our longest standing peers to demonstrate their support both for our frontbench team and for the direction and success of Govt. policies. [end p1]
3. Bills have their origin in the Manifesto.
The Manifesto was drafted with enormous attention, specifically designed to reveal the policies, to deal with some long standing problems like rates, and to extend opportunity—like the education Bill.
This was against the background of a transformation of our countries [sic] fortunes because we have stuck unswervingly to our policies however great the contemporary criticisms—because we believed they were right. They turned out to be right for our country & people. Thank goodness we didn't flinch. We shouldn't have been returned if we had.
4. You would I know like me to say a word particularly about 2 Bills.
The Community Charge (Local Government Finance Bill)
It was in 1974—the October when Edward HeathTed was leader of our Party that we pledged ourselves to get rid of rates. [end p2]
We were not returned until 1979 and had other things to attend to immediately. By 1983, we had not reached agreement in the party about what should replace rates but we knew better than to have a revaluation in England and we could not let them go on rising as fast in the left wing authorities so we introduced RATE CAPPING. [Note conventions in local govt. have broken down with the new militant left.] Scotland by law had to have a revaluation and did.
And we had the biggest rebellion among our Associations we have ever known. We went down to 13%; in the polls—24%;.
By that time we had done a good deal more work on a substitute local tax and the way of financing local authorities through the rate support grant.
We introduced and Parliament passed through all its stages the Community Charge for Scotland before the last election.
So we were in a good position to know what to put into the manifesto for E & W. [end p3]
Quote p63.
Never have we been clearer or more detailed about the scope and purpose of the Bill.
Local authority expenditure is paid for in 3 ways
Taxpayer—50%;
Business—25%;
Rates & Community Charge—25%;
Most local authority services are in respect of people—not properties
education 50%; of exp.
social services 11%;
police & fire 16%;
Reasonable to have a personal & not a property tax.
1) Tax is arranged so that for same services at same level of efficiency same level of community charge in levied.
a) Ready reckoner all over England.
2) If a local resident does not have the ability to pay the standard charge—generous rebates—affecting 9m (35m local).
3) People benefitting most of all
widows
single people
4) Yes some people will pay who have never paid before [end p4]
—policies are based on equity and fairness not on gainers and losers
—needed to broaden the tax.
5) Bill contains a fundamental change of rate support grant calculation—not on expenditure—but on [? amount] for a standard service.
6) It is not governments which fix the Community Charge but local councils.
7) Answerable to all electors no longer a separation between those who demand & those who foot the bill.
8) Already LAs starting to cut expenditure.
9) Those who spend most do not necessarily give best service.
10) Relevance of unified business rate to inner cities.
REVISION FUNCTION
So the improvements in the Scottish Bill made during its passage have been respected fully in the Bill now before you.
Yes of course we expect [end p5] Your Lordships to carry out a revision function.
But in return—may I ask Your Lordships to recall that the fundamental structure and detail of this Bill was before the electorate and it was that which was endorsed by them. A Bill which in other words had already gone through Your Lordships' revision function.
5. Education Bill 6 pages in manifesto.
Particular reference to schools
Some shire counties run system well
Some authorities not.
Enabling system—schools to opt out—all over England.
State independent school.
—again for Inner Cities.
ILEA—spends 52%; more per pupil than Outer London.
—c.f. deprived areas 45%; more than Manchester 83%; more than B'mghm.
Exam achievements
86th out of 96 LEAs on ‘O’ levels A to C CSE Grade 1. [end p6]
Manifesto—Boroughs opt out
—or any school opts out
Note—Polytechnics gone to separate Poly Grant Authority as free-standing corporate bodies.
These things again for Inner Cities.
6. Housing Bill.
7. Return of Personal Responsibility
—Civic responsibility—More choice in housing
—Education—lower [? student] [?]