Mr Reginald Freeson: Does the Financial Secretary agree that many small building firms do most of their work for housing associations and local authorities in housing refurbishment? Does he further agree that when the budgets of housing associations and local authorities are cash limited, the imposition of VAT on refurbishment work will result in a considerable reduction in the amount of such work done by small...
Mr Reginald Freeson: Will the Chancellor bear in mind that private sector industry depends largely on public expenditure, especially on capital account, and in particular that the construction industry depends for about 50 per cent. of its work load on public capital investment? Would it not be wise, if not urgent, to increase capital investment for the benefit of the construction industry, get the houses and...
Mr Reginald Freeson: Will the Secretary of State bear in mind an extremely important aspect of the issue concerning capital expenditure in schools which for some time has not received the attention that it should have done? I refer to the many schools where, for whatever reason, there has been a failure over many years to establish proper planned maintenance programmes, with the result that there is a need for...
Mr Reginald Freeson: Will the Prime Minister add to the list of her engagements today, or shortly, a meeting with the chairman of the governors of the BBC with a view to removing the cut imposed on a major local radio station in London, which has resulted in a significant reduction in the black Londoners' programme, the only one of its kind operated in this country today?
Mr Reginald Freeson: What about grants?
Mr Reginald Freeson: Whatever the bandying about between one decade and another on rate support grant levels, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us when, before the advent of this Government, there has been such a major and sharp reduction in central Government assistance to local authorities within such a short period as four to five years? Secondly, will he answer the question that was put to him in the...
Mr Reginald Freeson: Does the Minister accept that the prospective reduction in housing investment next year, totalling nearly £500 million, is in fact a reduction in the real economic activity of this country and will produce about 30,000 job losses in building and related industries?
Mr Reginald Freeson: Answer the question.
Mr Reginald Freeson: Is it not true that the building industry's organisations have made it clear, both privately and publicly, that most of the land that is publicly owned and on the register is not suitable for most development, including large-scale housing development, and that one of the main reasons is that large areas of the land do not have infrastructure services? Does the Secretary of State accept that...
Mr Reginald Freeson: The House has just listened to a most shoddy speech by the hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard). His speech was heard by a questionable audience which came into the House for one purpose. This may take the smile off the hon. Gentleman's face. I and other hon. Members wish to present serious matters on behalf of constituents. I did not expect to sit through about 25...
Mr Reginald Freeson: There are Conservative Members who, to do them credit, will use their judgment, whatever their reservations about the Bill's contents, and support the Second Reading in the Division lobby. One or two hon Gentlemen made fair points about the manner in which some Opposition Members have been responding to their colleagues. I came to the House in a true non-partisan frame of mind. My hon....
Mr Reginald Freeson: I am passionately angry that an entirely non-partisan measure should have been treated in such a way by the Whips' Office and the Ministers concerned. I am not angry about the agreement over the Bill because that is what this place is all about.
Mr Reginald Freeson: I shall not take any lessons or advice from those who are not interested in the issues before the House.
Mr Reginald Freeson: We have seen what has been taking place for the past 15 or 20 minutes at the far end of the Chamber. It is exactly what many of us feared. No one in this place minds being genuinely voted down or argued down on an issue such as the one before us, but this is the third time that the Government's predisposition has been handled in this way. The Opposition will probably lose on this occasion for...
Mr Reginald Freeson: I accept what the Minister says, but there can be many views about how to proceed in the Bill, and there can be sharp differences of view about the Bill. However, will he explain why the matter is not being left by the Government to a free decision by hon. Members? Will he explain why the Whips are on? Will he arrange for them to be withdrawn so that we may all express our views in the...
Mr Reginald Freeson: The House owes its thanks to the hon. Member for Cornwall, South-East (Mr. Hicks). I say that genuinely, in no partisan spirit, and with no intention of creating mischief. He gave the House a strong dose of realism and straight talking. His speech was realistic and refreshing. The Minister for Housing and Construction was proud of his Government's policies. I shall not deal with the whole...
Mr Reginald Freeson: I was grateful for the Minister's visit. I would have been more glad if, when he returned to his office, he had changed the rules governing the purchase of properties. I sought to negotiate on this in a completely non-partisan fashion with his predecessor, but without success. If we changed the rules governing the procedures for the purchase of properties—which are now more antiquated and...
Mr Reginald Freeson: I am dealing with a vital matter. I will not give way because I am anxious to get my case across. I am representing my constituents and hundreds of thousands of people who need housing. If the Minister says, "We must look for more efficiency, especially in administration," I might be prepared to argue that with him; I will visit any local authority department and any part of any housing...
Mr Reginald Freeson: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
Mr Reginald Freeson: The Minister is frightened of us.