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Finance (No. 2) Bill

It takes some people longer to listen and learn than others. The hon. Gentleman’s party has been trying to get the electorate to listen and learn for the past 70 years and still has not succeeded, so these things can take time. The same point may also apply to his future leadership hopes; perhaps the membership of his party will listen a little more carefully next time. The fourth leg of the argument advanced by the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet concerned trusts, to which we have already referred. I hope that the Government will look at that issue again, because I would like greater clarity. The tenor of her remarks suggested that she wanted to defend the rich. There is a lot to be said for the rich, but we do not need to defend them too much in terms of trusts taxation, because they can afford to employ a whole team of people to defend themselves. However, we do need the Government to clarify whether the provision applies to just the very rich. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) tempts me to mention the opening passage of ““The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber””, by Ernest Hemingway. The character Julian says, ““The rich are very different from me and you””, to which the other character replies, ““Yes, they have more money.”” That is always the way. They also have more power, but Hemingway, who came from a nice middle-class background and—like me—had a doctor for a father, did not mention that. He should have. The contribution of the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne was a bit vague. The hon. Member for Eastleigh referred to the Liberal Democrats tabling amendments to Finance Bills in Committee, and occasionally—when they are allowed to—they do table concrete amendments. However, the hon. Lady employed a device that many Members—including, I freely confess, me, on occasion—have used. When the Member concerned asks a question, the listener assumes that they know which policy the Member supports. However, on examining the question—I say this as a lawyer—it is clear that it is simply an open question. For example, the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne talked about a possible charge on aircraft movements, but she did not say whether she supports such a proposal. I am happy to take an intervention on that point.