Orders of the Day — Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 9:34 pm on 17 March 1983.

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Photo of Mr Jock Bruce-Gardyne Mr Jock Bruce-Gardyne , Knutsford 9:34, 17 March 1983

As I said during an intervention in the right hon. Gentleman's speech, we profoundly welcome the contribution that charities make. However, the right hon. Gentleman should be aware from his period in government that the problem about arranging for the repayment of VAT to charities is that there are a- mass of charities, some which would benefit disproportionately to their public support. In many cases the charities' objectives would not command universal support. All Governments have faced that problem. [Interruption] The hon. Member for Crewe must allow me to make my speech. The right hon. Member for Norwich, North made an extremely lengthy intervention and I wish to reply to the debate.

Thursday's Budget debate might almost be described as a claimants' union day—the day when Opposition Members parade their plans for extra spending of their constituents' taxes and insurance, sometimes with a crass indifference to their failure to oblige when they have had responsibility for such matters. This afternoon has been no exception.

I wish to touch on other matters before I conclude. I refer, first, to some of the points raised by the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. John). I had some sympathy with the comments of the right hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Stewart) about the change from forecast to historic assessment of benefits uprating having a certain air of circularity about it in view of what happened in 1976. Opposition Members have made great play of the claim that the date chosen for this year's planned historic assessment—May—promises to be a month of low inflation. It simply represents the last month compatible with achieving uprating on time in November—[Horn. MEMBERS: "Oh."]. That happens to be true.