Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: The recent housing benefit cuts are among the worst examples of the thoughtless, uncaring attitude that we have come to expect of the Government. The Government say that they want people to be independent, but, at the same time, they penalise the most fiercely independent section of our society—our senior citizens. Those are men and women whose lives have been governed by hard work,...
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Due to the inaccurate and misleading answer that the Prime Minister gave me today, is there nothing in Standing Orders to ensure that she should give more realistic and truthful answers to Members' questions? The housing benefit cuts are the responsibility of this Government, not of local government.
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 May.
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: As a result of the recent housing benefit cuts, many senior citizens in my constituency of Glasgow, Pollok and elsewhere have been asked to pay double their previous rent and rates from resources that are already overstretched. Will the right hon. Lady consider ways of ending the fear and hardship that her Government's policy has imposed upon the elderly?
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: When they assess the rent, will the rent officers make sure that the money that the tenants receive from the Government will be decreased? The local authorities will have the right to assist for a couple of weeks until things are sorted out. What does that mean? Who sorts out what? A landlord can charge whatever he wishes, so who sorts out the difference between what the Government will pay...
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: The Minister is telling us that if an old person is living in a house or apartment that is too big for him, the adjudication officer will be able to say that, rent-wise, that person, in his opinion, requires different accommodation and should be evicted.
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to prohibit the use of gaming machines in cafés, small shops, amusement arcades, snack bars, fairgrounds and other places by persons under the age of 16 years. In this way I hope to tighten a loophole in the present law and so protect schoolchildren, at least, from what has become a form of hard gambling. Although the law restricts the...
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me the opportunity to address the House in an Adjournment debate. I wish to draw the Government's attention to the plight of Scotland's profoundly mentally handicapped, and to the provisions made by local authorities, health boards and voluntary organisations in providing care for that group and respite care for their families. I should like to begin by...
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: May I thank the Minister for his reply to me, but say that he leaves me somewhat baffled. The group that I am talking about are the Cinderellas, those with mental illness. They have little or no help. I am surprised when you tell me this, as I know for a fact that when we talk about— The motion having been made after Ten o'clock and the debate having continued for half an hour, MR. SPEAKER...
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the proposal to end the right of intervention by hon. Members on immigration cases.
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: I thank the Minister for that reply. Does he realise that the right of MPs to intervene in such cases represents the last appeal for many families wishing to be reunited in this country? Hon. Members on both sides of the House, including me, have brought justice to individuals who have every right to enter this country.
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for granting me the opportunity to speak on the Bill, which is one of the most serious issues facing the Scottish people. The Bill has created great anxiety in my constituency. It is a direct attack on meagre resources and basic rights. It is not a real solution to the major housing problems in Scotland. It is instead an attack on the power of local...
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: With your permission, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and that of the House, I beg leave to submit this humble petition against the poll tax on behalf of the people in my constituency. They reject the regressive system of taxation which is unrelated to ability to pay, which will be expensive to administer and which will bring hardship to the poorest people in Scotland. Your petitioners pray that your...
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: What skills?
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much the percentage level of youth unemployment in Scotland increased between May 1979 and the most recent date for which figures are available.
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: I thank the Minister for his reply—[HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."] I can read; hon. Gentlemen cannot. Is the Minister aware that in the United Kingdom, excluding Scotland, unemployment among the under-25s fell by 13·7 per cent. between April 1986 and April 1987, while in Scotland it is claimed that it fell by a mere 3 per cent? Is he also aware—[HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."] I can read; hon....
Mr Jimmy Dunnachie: I thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to address the House today. It is a privilege to represent the constituency of Glasgow, Pollok. I have lived in the constituency for 11 years and was one of Pollok's local councillors for 15 years. In both capacities I know well the hard work of my predecessor, Mr. Jim White. He won the seat of Glasgow, Pollok from the Conservatives in 1970,...