Mr Robin Squire: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of his assessment, Official Report, 13 May, c. 312, that it might be desirable to legislate with respect to building societies, he will list the areas in which he judges additional provision to be necessary.
Mr Robin Squire: Is my hon. Friend aware that many who congratulate building societies on their role in widening home ownership are none the less concerned about the actions of a few societies, the directors of which appear to try to restrict their accountability to their members? Will he confirm that, without question, should that practice continue and not be regulated by the movement, legislation will be...
Mr Robin Squire: Does my hon. Friend accept that many hundreds, if not thousands, of people in Britain are losing money every year under the present legislation and that several of us would support a major change in that legislation? At first sight, the Cork committee's proposals will not of themselves do very much to change the underlying position.
Mr Robin Squire: rose—
Mr Robin Squire: Contrary to an earlier comment, does my hon. and learned Friend agree that the prompt delivery of sanctions by our European colleagues, which was sustained by the overwhelming majority throughout our hostilities, was a fine example of the co-operation that we receive from Europe, which should be applauded and not criticised?
Mr Robin Squire: Does my hon. Friend recognise that the advantages of the metering of water supplies are to some extent not being realised because of the high cost of installation of the meters? Will he keep that matter under review?
Mr Robin Squire: I introduced the amendment in Committee and I should like to congratulate my right hon. Friend the Minister and the Government on the action they have taken. I do not intend to make a long contribution. The reasoning behind the amendment was given in Committee and has been reiterated today by the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright). I should like to use a football vernacular which...
Mr Robin Squire: Will my hon. Friend note that this month marks the eighth anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish forces? Will he confirm that it remains the Government's urgent intention that Cyprus be reunited as one people and that all military forces be removed?
Mr Robin Squire: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that progress is now being made which will ensure that voting arrangements within the European Economic Community will suffice to protect vital interests in future.
Mr Robin Squire: Will my right hon. Friend confirm that, provided a satisfactory definition of "vital national interest" can be agreed, this country continues to have more to gain from majority voting—not least in the circumstances advanced by my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price) a moment ago—than it can by insisting on all decisions being made unanimously?
Mr Robin Squire: Has my hon. Friend read the report of the attitude of Sheffield council to would-be home purchasers and its use of service charges? Will he ask his Department to investigate whether there has been a deliberate breach of the 1980 Act?
Mr Robin Squire: In view of the plethora of statements that my hon. Friend mentioned as coming from Labour hon. Members, can my hon. Friend name one that will in any way reduce the problem outlined by the hon. Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs)?
Mr Robin Squire: Bearing in mind the increased industrial activity on behalf of railway, Health Service and other workers that is now promised by the National Union of Mineworkers, can my right hon. Friend assure me that there is some danger of some stocks being reduced in the next six months?
Mr Robin Squire: Will my hon. Friend confirm that the figures that he has just announced could equally be said to show that the safety net that hon. Members on both sides of the House support is working fully and properly for those who need support at a difficult time?
Mr Robin Squire: The right hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Ennals) made a wide-ranging speech and concluded on matters affecting the Home Office. I do not intend to spend long on those matters, but, like my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, North (Mr. Durant), I found the speech of the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook (Mr. Hattersley) disappointing and, in two respects, surprising. The...
Mr Robin Squire: I am pleased that I gave way. The right hon. Gentleman has only underlined that the Government of which he was a member, even if they said that they accepted the Edmund-Davies recommendations, did not implement them. That explains why so many police were leaving. The right hon. Gentleman must not delude himself or encourage the attempt of his right hon. Friend the Member for Sparkbrook to...
Mr Robin Squire: I am sure that the Prime Minister is well aware of the implications. I urge my right hon. and hon. Friends to consider carefully the suggestion by the right hon. Member for Crosby (Mrs. Williams) that the revenue effects should be amalgamated with capital, or that for purposes of measuring the penalties the interest charge effect should be disregarded in coming to any penalty totals. If that...
Mr Robin Squire: I fully accept that. There may be a difference between us in that I have no inherent objection to a property tax per se—one can discuss the detail—but I am convinced that there is no possibility of a property tax in isolation being able to support current local authority services. A local income tax would enable the 5½ million income tax payers who do not pay rates to be brought into the...
Mr Robin Squire: Without stepping down the somewhat difficult road of Brigitte Bardot, may I point out that many people outside the Conservative Party have urged the merit of council tenants being able to purchase their homes? They include groups such as the Child Poverty Action Group. If I may be presumptuous, it is a little glib to suggest that it is purely for Tory vote winning. Council house sales...
Mr Robin Squire: May I encourage my hon. Friend by assuring him that if he wished for a short, sharp measure to protect consumers, I have a strange feeling that it would pass through the House more rapidly than other legislation that might be contemplated?
