MINISTERIAL BROADCASTS
Q1. Mr. Rost
asked the Prime Minister when he last made a ministerial broadcast.
The Prime Minister (Mr. James Callaghan
rose——
Hon. Members
Hear, hear.
The Prime Minister
I was hoping it would be unanimous.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave him on 14th December.
Mr. Rost
Is the Prime Minister sure that he can handle tonight's television interview on his own, or will he be begging one of the leaders of one of the other parties to go along with him to hold his hand?
The Prime Minister
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving me the opportunity to intimate that I hope the whole House will watch an excellent broadcast on “Nationwide” at 6.20 this evening, although modesty forbids my saying who is taking part.
Mr. Jay
In his next broadcast will my right hon. Friend point out to the public that even the remote possibility of a Conservative Government has led to a sharp fall in the value of the pound?
[column 1075]The Prime Minister
Yes, I am aware that that has taken place. I have been informed that a few minutes ago it appeared on the tape that what was called “Callaghan 's> hopes of victory” is sending the pound, stocks and everything else soaring again.
Mrs. Thatcher
In his several broadcasts as James CallaghanPrime Minister the right hon. Gentleman has laid great stress on the Labour Party's programme. Does he still stand by Labour's 1974 manifesto?
The Prime Minister
I am grateful to the right hon. Lady for that inquiry, as it gives me the opportunity to intimate to the House—as I have recently had to review the manifesto—that, I am glad to say, about four-fifths of the programme has already been carried out. I have no doubt that we shall be able to complete the rest with the assistance of all parts of the House.
Mrs. Thatcher
When the Prime Minister's party drew it up, did it anticipate a very short Parliament?
The Prime Minister
No. We knew the celerity with which my hon. Friends would work and the desire of the Opposition to assist us. Therefore, we were quite clear, as we worked through it, that we would be able to get it done in a reasonable time. I am grateful to the Opposition for all the assistance that they have given us over the past few years.
Mr. Donald Stewart
If the Prime Minister's next broadcast has to be a farewell performance on behalf of his Government. Will he make it clear to his party that the main grave-digger figures were his right hon. and hon. Friends who permitted themselves the luxury of voting against the guillotine motion on the devolution Bill?
The Prime Minister
There is no doubt that the Scotland and Wales Bill has meant a separation of the ways between the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and the Labour Party, and that I regret. But I still have hopes of one day coaxing the right hon. Gentleman into supporting us again.
NAIROBI
Q2. Mr. Greville Janner
asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to Nairobi.
[column 1076]The Prime Minister
I have at present no plans to do so.
Mr. Janner
When my right hon. Friend consults President Kenyatta and his other Commonwealth colleagues will he raise with them the necessity for a complete overhaul of the law on diplomatic immunity? Will he draw particular attention to the staggering abuse of our hospitality in London by visiting diplomats, especially by the Nigerians, who have succeeded in claiming diplomatic immunity on 6,500 occasions in the last year?
The Prime Minister
Yes. I heard the “Today” programme. I am grateful to my hon. and learned Friend, because he gave me the opportunity of looking up some of these matters. It is true that there is considerable violation of the parking regulations. I am told that that is to some extent due to the fact that opportunities for parking in the case of people who enjoy immunity are more limited in this country than elsewhere. But there have been discussions and a series of meetings between the Greater London Council and heads of diplomatic missions to see whether more reserved parking spaces can be provided for the official use of missions. [An Hon. Member: “Why?” ] So as to prevent parking infringements, I suppose.
In answer to the first part of my hon. and learned Friend's question, I do not think that I shall be discussing the matter with President Kenyatta.
Mr. Tim Renton
Switching from parking meters, will the Prime Minister, if he stays in office, go somewhat further than Kenya and take the opportunity of following President Podgorny and Fidel Castro in visiting Tanzania and Mozambique to discover for himself the alarming extent of build-up of Russian arms and influence in Southern Africa?
The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will be visiting both Tanzania and Mozambique in the course of his forthcoming journey to Africa. I am sure that he will have the opportunity of discussing this and other matters with President Nyerere and President Machel. I keep in close touch with President Nyerere on a number of matters, through correspondence. I shall certainly use all opportunities to see that our relations with Tanzania are maintained on the closest basis.
[column 1077]Mr. Hooley
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the general stability and prospects for peace in Southern Africa would be improved if Israel and other countries followed the excellent example of this country of not supplying arms to South Africa?
The Prime Minister
We are opposed to supply of arms to South Africa and accept the full United Nations decision on this matter. I trust that all others will do the same.
TUC
Q3. Mr. Canavan
asked the Prime Minister what subjects he proposes to discuss at his next meeting with the TUC.
The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave him on 25th January.
Mr. Canavan
Will my right hon. Friend discuss with the TUC the need for a united campaign against the kind of racialism that is being stirred up by the dirty Fascist tactics being used in the Stechford by-election by the Tories, who are using anti-immigrant posters similar to those being used by the National Front with the apparent approval of the deputy Leader of the Opposition?
The Prime Minister
I read the account in The Guardian of the leaflet, or a facsimile of the leaflet, used by the Conservative candidate. It certainly is at variance with the views that have been expressed in this House on this matter.
Mr. Skinner
Not really.
The Prime Minister
Yes, because the Opposition have not said that they would stop all immigration. They have said that they would place limitations on it, as we have, and that they would need to examine carefully the question of a register, as we have done. I do not understand why the Conservative candidate is going so far beyond official Conservative Party policy. But if there is any doubt, perhaps the right hon. Lady would care to take advantage of this opportunity to make the position clear.
Mr. Alexander Fletcher
Will the Prime Minister remind trade union leaders that it is the British people and [column 1078]not the TUC who will decide which Government they will deal with after next month's election? In particular, will he remind the general secretaries of the National Union of Mineworkers and of the Union of Post Office Workers that, provided that they and their colleagues act in the best interests of the British people, they have nothing to fear from a Conservative Government?
The Prime Minister
The trade unions, like other bodies, have long memories. The hon. Gentleman said that they have nothing to fear from a Conservative Government. That may be true. But, as Aneurin Bevan once said, “Why peer into the crystal ball when you can read the book?” They remember the Industrial Relations Act.
Mr. Pavitt
On a more harmonious note, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether, when next he meets the TUC, he will convey the sincere thanks of a large number of Labour Members for the way in which, in addition to its usual duties, it has pursued the cause of old-age pensioners and acted as the voice of the people who pay it their dues?
The Prime Minister
Yes, Sir. There is no doubt that the TUC has felt very strongly, deeply and sincerely about the position of those on social security, including old-age pensioners. There is no need to remind the TUC or anyone else of their responsibility as citizens. It was because of that that three years ago it entered into the social contract, which dealt with matters on a much wider basis than money wages alone.
Mr. Hugh Fraser
When the right hon. Gentleman is discussing matters with the TUC, will he pay attention to the views of Mr. Roy Fraser and those who feel themselves totally underpaid for skilled jobs as they are much more important than men like Jack Jones today?
The Prime Minister
The Government's position throughout the whole of phase 2 of the incomes policy has been that the next phase must take into account the great pressures that have been placed upon skill and differentials as a result of the flat rate and small percentage increases. That is the Government's policy. That matter is now being discussed with the TUC to get an agreement [column 1079]for another phase. What I, the House in certain circumstances, and the country in even more difficult circumstances would be interested to know is whether the Opposition would seek such an agreement.
Later——
Mr. Mellish
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will no doubt remember the dialogue that took place across the House during Question 3 to the Prime Minister, and that the honour and integrity of the deputy Leader of the Opposition was questioned. Is it not normal custom in this House that when such a statement is made about a right hon. or hon. Member, that Member then rises? Does it not——
Mr. Speaker
Order. It is quite wrong to pursue an argument through what is clearly not a point of order. Right hon. and hon. Members are free to seek to catch my eye.
NORTH-WEST ENGLAND
Q4. Mr. Hoyle
asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to visit the North-West.
The Prime Minister
I have at present no plans to do so.
Mr. Hoyle
If my right hon. Friend went to the North-West would he explain to the people there the valuable aid that they have received from this Labour Government, in that the temporary employment subsidy has enabled many firms to survive and that the textile industry, under the new Multi-Fibre Arrangement that the Government are pressing for, has a valuable and viable economic future? Would he also explain that all that would be thrown away if the Opposition came to power?
The Prime Minister
Yes, Sir. The temporary employment subsidy has helped more people in the North-West [column 1080]than in any other region—54,000 in all. The number of people trained under the training opportunities scheme has also risen substantially.
We are not satisfied with the operation of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement, which has to be renegotiated internationally. I explained to President Carter that we would want to see some changes in it, although some of the member States are not so interested.
As for what would happen in certain unlikely events, I assure my hon. Friend that he need have no fears about that. I think that normal service will be resumed pretty soon.
Mr. Prior
When the Prime Minister goes to Preston will he take with him the former Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson)? Will they both explain, on a platform there, the speech that the right hon. Member for Huyton made at Preston during the last General Election campaign, when he said that to have 1 million people unemployed would be quite intolerable to a Labour Government? The total is now nearly 1.4 million.
The Prime Minister
I do not complain that the right hon. Member for Lowestoft (Mr. Prior) keeps referring to that point, because it should be and is of concern to the whole House and the country, but the matter goes wider than that. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, it is of concern to the whole Western industrialised world. At the Downing Street summit next month I hope to direct the attention of all leaders of the free world to this problem, to see what we can do about it, especially in relation to young people who, in the United States, for example, make up nearly half of the total unemployed. I am glad that the problem is not as bad as that in this country but we have a serious problem and it must be dealt with on not only a national but a world basis.