PRIME MINISTER
Confederation of British Industry
23. Mr. Norman Atkinson
asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to meet the leaders of the Confederation of British Industry.
The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)
I have no immediate plans to do so.
Mr. Atkinson
Does the Prime Minister accept that when members of the CBI ask her about the 174 bankruptcies each week she cannot try to placate them, as she tries to do the TUC and the 364 economists, by saying that all will be well in the end, because the CBI is saying that the state of British industry is such that when she makes the call for the upturn it will not be in a position to respond?
The Prime Minister
The CBI backs the Government's broad general strategy. Industry will be in a position to respond because it is now reducing over-manning and making itself competitive. That is the best contribution that it can make to Britain.
Mr. Bruce-Gardyne
In discussions with the CBI, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the fact that although it serves purposes of enormous value, its advice to the Government has not always been of totally certain value? In 1971, the CBI devised a scheme that wrecked the [column 1110]financing of nationalised industries for five years. Will she welcome its advice, but treat it with the respect that it deserves?
The Prime Minister
The CBI's advice has not always been wholly dispassionate, but we took its advice recently and gave top priority to reducing interest rates. The CBI fully supports the Government in that priority.
Mr. Cryer
Is the Prime Minister aware that next Saturday there will be a massive TUC demonstration in Bradford, led by the trade union and Labour movement, against the Government's policies, which are creating mass unemployment? The textile industry has modernised and shed jobs, but it is still facing lengthening dole queues because of Government policy. What will she do to restore the industry's confidence?
The Prime Minister
We would have a larger textile industry if more people bought British products. I wish that hon. Members on the Opposition Benches would address themselves to the real reason why our industry is not doing as well as it should, which is that many people buy foreign goods in preference to British goods.
Boundary Commissions
(Departmental Co-ordination)
24. Dr. Edmund Marshall
asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the degree of co-ordination between the Civil Service Department and the Home Office in determining the approved complement of staff of the English and Welsh Parliamentary Boundary Commissions.
The Prime Minister
Yes, Sir.
Dr. Marshall
In view of the inconsistency between the reduction of more than 4 per cent. in the number of non-industrial civil servants during the past two years and the simultaneous increase in the staff of the Boundary Commissions by 60 per cent., is it not clear that the Government choose to ignore their own policies when they believe that their own preservation is at stake?
The Prime Minister
The Boundary Commission operates independently under the chairmanship of Mr. Speaker. It has sufficient staff to enable it to carry out its task in the statutory time allotted to it. I do not think that we can expect advice from the Opposition on anything to do with Boundary Commissions, in view of their record in 1969.
Engagements
25. Mr. Geraint Howells
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 9 April.
The Prime Minister
This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Mr. Howells
Will the Prime Minister find time today to tell the British public that she is convinced that she will reform the common agricultural policy during her term of office?
The Prime Minister
We shall make every effort to do so, and we shall make particularly strenuous efforts during our Presidency in the latter half of this year. It is an urgent matter.
[column 1111]Mr. George Gardiner
In view of certain press reports this morning, will my right hon. Friend take the opportunity today to reassure us that no Cabinet decision has yet been made on what action might be appropriate following the Green Paper on trade union immunities, and that no such decision will be made until the consultation period on the Green Paper is complete?
The Prime Minister
Of course no decision will be made until we have received the consultations on that very important paper. I am glad to reassure my hon. Friend.
Mr. Foot
Will the right hon. Lady take a very early opportunity today—namely, at the Dispatch Box now—to disown and condemn the Tory Action leaflet circulating in London under the title “Round Robin for March 1981” , which is clearly racist and Fascist in its implications? Is she not eager to condemn that leaflet in the strongest possible terms?
The Prime Minister
I neither know nor have seen such a leaflet, but I gladly condemn all racism and Fascism.
Mr. Foot
The right hon. Lady may not have seen the leaflet—and I understand that—but, having expressed a desire to condemn racism of this nature, will she take immediate steps to obtain a copy of the leaflet and to secure the support of the so-called Tory immigration group to condemn the leaflet too? Surely the whole House would wish to condemn this form of racist propaganda.
The Prime Minister
I totally condemn racism and Fascism. I never condemn something that I have not seen.
Mr. Heddle
Will my right hon. Friend take time today to consider the growing impatience and frustration of tens of thousands of council tenants throughout the country, but particularly in 27 Labour-controlled council areas, who wish to exercise their democratic right to buy their own homes? Will she give some advice and encouragement to them today so that in the near future they may be able to do so?
The Prime Minister
Local councils should assist tenants to exercise their legal rights, including the legal right to purchase their council houses. My right hon. Friend Michael Heseltinethe Secretary of State for the Environment is in touch with a number of councils that seem to be delaying matters, and he will consider very shortly what action he should take if they do not comply.
Mr. Greville Janner
Will the right hon. Lady have time today to consider the serious problems created for the Marconi radar company by the threatened cancellation of orders for naval equipment, which is produced mainly in my constituency, and the substitution of orders for Dutch equipment, so that much unemployment will be caused? Will she investigate the matter and see whether it is possible to buy British equipment, the research for which has been carried out at public expense, and which has now been produced to the precise specifications of the Ministry of Defence?
The Prime Minister
We try to buy British wherever possible and make strenuous efforts to do so even on some occasions when it costs just a little more. But we also have to consider the expense. Perhaps the hon. and learned Gentleman will take up the case direct with my right hon. Friend John Nottthe Secretary of State for Defence.
[column 1112]Mr. Beith
Will the Prime Minister find an opportunity to explain why she sent the Solicitor-General to Strasbourg to defend the case brought by the three sacked British Rail employees? If she was so keen that he should go to Strasbourg, why did she not send him briefed to defend the three employees and to support their case, when they had been sacked from their jobs on a matter of conscience?
The Prime Minister
My hon. and learned Friend Sir Ian Percivalthe Solicitor-General made it perfectly clear that the law under this Government was totally different from the law when that case arose. He would greatly resent what the hon. Gentleman has said, and so do I.
26. Mr. Neubert
asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 9 April.
The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Neubert
Will my right hon. Friend comment on the damage being done to the effectiveness of the Polaris force by a handful of civil servants during the current dispute? Does not their action strike at the heart of the nation's defences, and should not the possibility of such sabotage be excluded from their conditions of employment?
The Prime Minister
I do not think that the British people will think very much of a minority of public servants who choose to put personal gain above the safety of the realm. I make it clear that the nuclear deterrent is still effective, and will remain effective, and we shall take all steps to see that it does.
Mr. Bidwell
On her forthcoming visit to India, how will the right hon. Lady meet the criticism that the British Nationality Bill is anti-feminist with regard to the application of the present immigration rules? Will it not be difficult for the people of India to understand the position of Britain's first woman Prime Minister in this matter?
The Prime Minister
I do not envisage any particular difficulty.
Mr. Viggers
Will my right hon. Friend accept from one who represents a defence area that the action by civil servants to prevent the servicing of Polaris submarines is resented by many members of the Civil Service unions, many of whom are heartily sick of the action that is taken in their name?
The Prime Minister
I think that that action is both deeply resented and not understood. I have already commented upon it. I must make it clear, however, that just as we condemn those who seek to put defence and the nuclear deterrent at risk, so we should thoroughly applaud the vast majority of public servants who loyally stay at their jobs and take on extra duties so that the intelligence services and the safety of the realm shall continue.
Mr. James Lamond
Before the right hon. Lady takes up too much of her time today worrying about those council tenants whose legal right to buy their houses she believes is being thwarted, will she take time to consider the far higher priority of the hundreds of thousands of would-be council tenants whose human rights are being offended by the fact that the Government's policy will mean that no council houses will be provided in the next two or three years?
[column 1113]The Prime Minister
I shall do everything to see that the legal rights of council tenants to purchase their own houses are honoured. The hon. Gentleman should remember that more than 100,000 council houses are vacant, and have been for some time.
27. Mr. Gordon Wilson
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 9 April.
The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Wilson
Is the Prime Minister aware of the anger in Scotland at the proposed takeover of the Royal Bank of Scotland by two banking companies competing for it? Will she take time today to meet the Secretary of State for Trade and request him to refer the whole question to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission without delay?
The Prime Minister
I believe that the legal position is that the Director General of Fair Trading has to consider the matter and make his recommendation to my right hon. Friend John Biffenthe Secretary of State for Trade, who in turn will make his decision about a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission before the final day for the bid.
Mr. Bill Walker
Will my right hon. Friend, during her busy day, find time to discuss with her Cabinet [column 1114]colleagues the problems in Dundee, where we have seen a surge of anti-semitism, which is a direct result of the flying of the PLO flag and the twinning of Dundee with Nablus?
The Prime Minister
Of course, I condemn wholly and utterly any anti-semitism anywhere in the United Kingdom. The purpose of twinning is for the people of each town to get to know each other better. I am sure that many people in Dundee would wish that their local council would give attention first to local matters.
Mr. Hardy
One cannot expect the Prime Minister to send a greeting to the Labour movement's rally in Bradford on Saturday, but will she at least consider sending an appropriate message to the rally that is to be held in Hyde Park on Sunday, organised by all the national youth bodies and led by the Rotherham youth service? It is a rally that is to be colourful, responsible and non-partisan. What message would the right hon. Lady care to give that rally?
The Prime Minister
That the best way to create jobs in the future is to get British industry competitive, that that is already happening, and that one of the main ways to do that is to fight inflation, because unless we beat inflation we shall not get industry competitive or have the jobs here.