PRIME MINISTER
Engagements
Q1. Mr. William Powell
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 May.
The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)
This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Mr. Powell
Is my right hon. Friend aware of the growing public anger, resentment and anxiety about the waste of taxpayers' money by a number of local authorities, highlighted yet again in an article in the Daily Mail today about Ealing? Has not the time come for a full inquiry into the matter and would not the best thing to do be to establish a Special Select Committee of the House with full powers to call for persons and papers so that the true facts can be laid bare?
The Prime Minister
I have indeed seen the report to which my hon. Friend refers and, if correct, it is a shocking indictment of the extravagance and profligacy of that particular local authority. My hon. Friend will be aware of the excellent work done by the Audit Commission in identifying waste and making recommendations and it would be better if those recommendations were taken up more quickly. Nevertheless, I heard my hon. Friend's [column 391]suggestion, as I am sure did my right hon. and learned Friend Sir Geoffrey Howethe Leader of the House. Bearing in mind that a large part of local authority spending comes from the taxpayer, he has a good point.
Mr. Kinnock
In view of his obvious desire to be of help to her, has the Prime Minister thought of putting the poll tax review into the hands of the right hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine)? After all, one volunteer is worth 10 pressed men.
The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend the Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine) is well aware that the most unfair system of local taxation was rates.
Mr. Kinnock
I hope that the right hon. Lady will reflect on the fact that the right hon. Gentleman had at least one good idea—annual elections for councils, which has been Labour party policy for some time. Does the Prime Minister recall that when local authorities were tested last week the result was a net 300 seat gain for Labour, a net 11 council gain for Labour and a major increase in vote share for Labour? On second thoughts, does she think that is perhaps what the right hon. Member for Henley had in mind?
The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend Michael Heseltinethe Member for Henley had many good ideas in his article, which of course will be considered, along with many others in the community charge review, to see what modifications and adjustments are necessary. With regard to structural changes in local authorities, I should have thought that the right hon. Gentleman would be well aware that those could not take place in the lifetime of the present Parliament. I remind the right hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend the Member for Henley rightly said this morning that the present Conservative Government
“would fight and win the next general election with the community charge in place.”
Mr. Tebbit
Will my right hon. Friend consider carefully the suggestion of our hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Powell) that a special Select Committee should be set up to examine these matters? For instance, it could take evidence on the desirability of a roof tax and explore the possibilities as to how it could be implemented. Does my right hon. Friend agree, however, that it should be specifically precluded from questioning any members of the Labour party, however distinguished, about whether they voted Conservative in the Ealing borough council election?
The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend makes the point more powerfully than I could. The people who turned out the Ealing Labour council did a good day's work.
Q2. Ms. Abbott
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 May.
The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Lady to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Ms. Abbott
Has the Prime Minister read the small print in Tarzan's election address, which featured so prominently in The Times this morning? Did she see the reference to the “virtuous circle” of falling inflation and a reduction in interest rates? Does she agree that, with interest rates at 15 per cent. and a rise in inflation due to be announced [column 392]tomorrow, she is so far removed from virtue in such matters that the best that she could hope for in a Heseltine Administration is a position as elected mayor of Dulwich?
The Prime Minister
The level of inflation that the Labour party criticises today is well below what Labour was able to achieve during the greater part of its time in office. I remind the hon. Lady that there are more jobs in this country than ever before—that is the basis of prosperity.
Q3. Mr. Shersby
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 May.
The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Shersby
Will my right hon. Friend take time today to consider the excellent local election result in Hillingdon, where the Conservatives won control? Does she agree with me that the principal reason for that victory was their proposal for a community charge of £289, compared with the Labour proposal of £366—a reduction of £77?
The Prime Minister
Yes. I congratulate my hon. Friend, and I welcome the evidence that Conservative councils not only cost less but give better services. I note that, as my hon. Friend says, there will be a substantial reduction in community charge under a Conservative council; nevertheless, Hillingdon Conservative council intends to spend an extra £1 million on schools, to devote more resources to care for the elderly and the handicapped and to cut council committees from 100 to 30.
Mr. Hood
When the Prime Minister visits Scotland later this week to pledge her full support for the poll tax in Scotland, will she also pledge her full support for the Secretary of State for Scotland as her friends on the Back Benches are insisting that he be sacked before the next election?
The Prime Minister
My right hon. and learned Friend Malcolm Rifkindthe Secretary of State for Scotland is one of the best Secretaries of State that Scotland has ever had.
Q4. Mr. David Evans
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 May.
The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Evans
My right hon. Friend may know that I have an interest in a certain football club. One of our sayings is that we never change a winning team. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that as she was our centre forward and captain in 1979, 1983 and 1987, she is not planning to change our winning team? Does she agree that our supporters would be dismayed if we put a reserve centre forward and captain on the field, notwithstanding the fact the Labour party has second-rate ideas, second-rate policies and, as their own supporters know, a sub-zero leader?
The Prime Minister
My hon. Friend and I share the same goal. With myself as centre forward and my hon. Friend on the right wing, we should make a winning team.
Q5. Mr. Mallon
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 May.
[column 393]The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Mallon
As a major player on the world political stage for the past 11 years, the Prime Minister must surely welcome the breakdown of artificial barriers throughout Europe. As she surveys those changes, does not it strike her that the division of Ireland is an anachronism which cannot possibly work administratively, politically or economically? Would not it be the mark of real statesmanship if the Prime Minister were to dedicate her remaining time in office to solving that problem and in that way making a lasting contribution to a peaceful united Europe?
The Prime Minister
The hon. Gentleman is aware that the majority of the people of Northern Ireland have clearly expressed their wish to stay a part of the United Kingdom. So long as that is so, they will remain a part of the United Kingdom. I hope and believe that they will remain a part of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes
While many improvements in management and efficiency are needed in local authorities, has my right hon. Friend seen the report by PA Management Consultants which says that improvements so far have been a direct result of legislation passed by the Government? Will she confirm that it is not the policy of her Government to repeal that legislation? Does she agree that the policy of the Labour party to repeal local government legislation would be a disaster for everyone?
The Prime Minister
Yes, I agree with my hon. Friend. The provisions of the legislation meant that local authorities had to go out to competition for many services, as a result of which they got better services at lower cost. The audit Commission has also been active in seeing what further economies can be made. I hope that its conclusions will be carried into effect.
Q6. Mr. Nellist
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 May.
The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Nellist
Is the Prime Minister aware that the whole House will want to send its deepest sympathy to the family of William Cartman, the sixth British worker to be killed [column 394]in the Channel tunnel, a project which seems to be costing almost a man a mile? Will she make it clear that it is entirely inadequate for the five companies of Transmanche Link to be fined only £10,000 each for the death of another worker last February? Will she assure the House and construction workers that the Government will bring forward emergency legislation to make mandatory a prison sentence on an employer who is found guilty of gross negligence following the death or serious injury of a construction worker? When will the carnage stop?
The Prime Minister
Of course we are concerned about that tragic accident. As the hon. Gentleman knows, my right hon. and learned Friend Michael Howardthe Secretary of State for Employment will be meeting the chief executive of Transmanche Link later this afternoon to discuss the safety of the site. Health and safety inspectors are investigating the accident, and they have taken immediate action. Two prohibition notices have been issued which have stopped the operation of the two tunnel-boring machines in the marine tunnels. It is too early to say what caused the accident. We all deeply regret it, and we send our sympathy to the bereaved relatives of the person who was killed.
Q7. Mr. David Shaw
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 10 May.
The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Shaw
I thank my right hon. Friend for her remarks about the employees and workers in Dover engaged on the construction of the Channel tunnel. On a different subject—[Hon. Members: “Speak for Dover.” ]—has my right hon. Friend had time during her busy day to read newspaper reports about the remarks of the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, East (Mr. Prescott), who seems to believe——
Mr. Speaker
Order. The Prime Minister cannot take responsibility for that.
Mr. Allen
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It arises from Prime Minister's Question Time.
Mr. Speaker
I must take the Business of the House first.