PRIME MINISTER
Engagements
Q1. Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 June.
The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)
This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall be attending the CBI's annual dinner.
Mr. Carlisle
Will my right hon. Friend consider the fact that 43 per cent. of our exports now go to the Common Market, that that share is increasing annually, and that, therefore, the Common Market is a major source of jobs for our nation? Will she use the forthcoming Presidency of the Council of Ministers to get across to the British public the contribution that our membership of the Common Market makes to the creation of jobs here?
The Prime Minister
I confirm what my hon. Friend says. I am grateful to him for drawing attention to the important part which membership of the Community plays in providing jobs for people in the British economy.
Mr. Foot
In the light of some of the reports that have appeared about what may appear on the agenda of the Cabinet's crisis meeting tomorrow—[Interruption]. The crisis in British industry and the crisis of mass unemployment are on a scale that we have not seen for many years. Will the right hon. Lady give us a clear assurance that there will be no rejection at that Cabinet meeting of the proposals, made by Sir Peter Parker and the unions in the British railway industry, for major investment in the industry? Those proposals should be backed by the Government and the country. Will she assure us that there will be no rejection of those schemes until the House of Commons has had a chance to discuss them?
The Prime Minister
There is a Cabinet meeting tomorrow, but it is not a crisis Cabinet meeting. The discussion will be relevant and interesting. My right hon. Friends will express their minds freely.
Mr. Foot
We all understand about the right hon. Lady's right hon. Friends expressing their minds freely—I would not use the term myself, but she has used the term, “the wets” . Will she give us a clear assurance that there will be no Government decision on the investment scheme for British Rail until all hon. Members in the House of Commons, “wets” and “drys” , have had a chance to put their case?
The Prime Minister
I can give the right hon. Gentleman no such assurance. The external financing limit for British Railways this year is higher in real terms than it was last year. We are providing £920 million to finance British Rail this year—which is more than 1p on income tax for everyone in the country.
Mr. Eggar
Will my right hon. Friend have time today to consider early-day motion 455, which is signed by 111 [column 856]of her right hon. and hon. Friends and looks forward to a further decrease in the nationalised industries sector? Can she confirm that this remains a major priority for her Government?
The Prime Minister
I have seen that early-day motion, and I congratulate my hon. friend on it. I assure him that my objectives are identical with his.
Mr. David Steel
Will the Prime Minister confirm that, although her right hon. Friends are free to speak their minds at the Cabinet tomorrow, the fact that all the press reports say that the monetarists will win does not mean that they are not also free to take decisions tomorrow?
The Prime Minister
Decisions are taken by the Cabinet as a whole, and not by individual members.
Ports Industry
Q2. Mr. R. C. Mitchell
asked the Prime Minister whether she will propose a Royal Commission to investigate the future of the ports industry.
The Prime Minister
No, Sir.
Mr. Mitchell
Is the Prime Minister aware that there is a great deal of uncertainty in the ports industry about what the future holds? Is she further aware that that uncertainty extends not only to those working in the industry but to the many hundreds of thousands who rely for their livelihoods on a successful ports industry? Does not she think that there is a case for a cool, dispassionate look at the future of the British ports industry?
The Prime Minister
No, Sir. There are problems in some of the ports. There would be fewer problems and more prosperity if there were fewer strikes.
Mr. Aitken
Is my right hon. Friend aware that, far from needing a Royal Commission, many of the Channel ports have already suffered from an exhaustive inquiry by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, which has delayed the merger of the loss-making British Rail hovercraft operation with the successful private enterprise operation, Hoverlloyd? Now that the Monopolies and Mergers Commission has reported, will she use her influence to ensure that the merger is delayed no further by Government intervention?
The Prime Minister
I shall see what I can do. I am anxious that all private enterprise ventures that would create new wealth and new jobs for Britain should be allowed to go ahead as soon as possible.
Engagements
Q3. Mr. Flannery
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 June.
The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Flannery
Will the Prime Minister turn her mind once again to the question of unemployment? Will she accept that, if there is no crisis in the Cabinet, there should be? If she says that there is no crisis she should look outside the Cabinet because there is a deep crisis about unemployment throughout Britain. Did she think that 250,000 people would be on the streets in the march for jobs if there were not a deep crisis? I come from a steel [column 857]city. Will she accept from me that, as we marched through Sheffield, factory after factory had signs saying “To Let” ? Is she aware that workers in Sheffield expect to be sacked almost any day, and that almost every day there are sackings and closures? Is not that a crisis?
The Prime Minister
There is no crisis in the Cabinet, although there may be a crisis in the Labour Party. On the serious matter that the hon. Gentleman raised, I agree that there are great difficulties and problems with unemployment. However, they will not be solved by marches. They might be solved if everyone in Britain bought more British goods if the goods are up to standard, and if we sell more British goods overseas. That is the only way to increase jobs. We shall not do so by ranting about it.
Mr. Robert Atkins
Following the success of British industry at the Paris air show, will my right hon. Friend find time to write to the president of the Society of British Aerospace Companies to congratulate him on the part that member companies play in the success story of British aerospace, especially British Aerospace and Short Brothers?
The Prime Minister
I am always delighted to congratulate those who are obtaining major export orders, because that is where the jobs are created. I have done a little selling myself to help British Aerospace.
Mr. Frank Allaun
Has the Prime Minister read this morning's report that, in certain circumstances, the 42 American Polaris submarines can launch their nuclear missiles without permission from headquarters? [Hon. Members: “Which paper?” ]. The Daily Telegraph. Does that policy apply to the four British Polaris submarines?
The Prime Minister
I do not know what appeared in the press. The British Polaris submarines are firmly under our control.
Mr. Emery
Has my right hon. Friend seen the Home Secretary's speech on Sunday about possible political control of the police for London and Manchester? Will she make clear her absolute condemnation of such measures?
The Prime Minister
Yes, I shall do so gladly. Political control of the police would be disastrous for the rule of law. They must remain independent. I am happy to remind the House that, by statute, control of the Metropolitan Police lies with William Whitelawthe Home Secretary, and that is a good thing.
Mr. Meacher
On the question of the special Cabinet meeting, will the Prime Minister reconsider whether it makes sense to demand further major public expenditure cuts that will simply increase unemployment, which will then increase spending on unemployment, which will lead to further demands for public expenditure cuts? With the upturn in inflation that is now taking place, is it not obvious to everyone—even to the right hon. Lady—that her economic policies are getting the worst of both worlds, with both higher inflation and higher unemployment?
The Prime Minister
The hon. Gentleman is mistaken. Over the years, and certainly since the 1960s, the proportion of national income taken by public expenditure has risen steadily, and so has unemployment.
[column 858]Correspondence
Q4. Mr. Teddy Taylor
asked the Prime Minister how many letters she has received from members of the general public since May 1979.
The Prime Minister
Some 320,000.
Mr. Taylor
What proportion of that enormous mailbag related to crime? Does my right hon. Friend agree that the current escalation of violence and vandalism and the desperately overcrowded prisons have created a position in which greater priority should be given to the battle against crime?
The Prime Minister
I cannot tell my hon. Friend the precise proportion of letters relating to crime. During the past month about 500 letters out of a total of 16,000 were concerned with increasing crime, violence and vandalism. The extent of the Government's concern about the problem is shown by the fact that since we returned to power the number of policemen in England and Wales has increased by 6,000, by 600 in Scotland and by 700 in Northern Ireland. We put priority on law and order, and we were right to do so.
Mr. Cryer
Is it not true that a large proportion of the 320,000 letters expressed opposition to nuclear weapons? Is not the decision of the Secretary of State for Defence to employ public relations consultants to mount a campaign for nuclear weapons an indication of the enormous success of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which was also reflected in last week's decision by NALGO to vote against nuclear weapons for Britain?
Will the right hon. Lady assure the House that the public relations consultants will not engage in the lies indulged in by Saatchi and Saatchi at the last general election, and try to pretend that nuclear weapons are safe? The only sure defence is to get rid of them.
The Prime Minister
There was not a large proportion of letters about nuclear weapons. We receive such letters when there is a lobby on that matter from time to time. My right hon. Friend John Nottthe Secretary of State for Defence does not need any public relations expert to put forward his views on defence—as the hon. Gentleman would know if he had listened thoroughly to the absolutely superb speech made by my right hon. Friend from the Dispatch Box during the debate on the Defence White Paper. The only security for a nation lies in its being prepared to defend itself and deter an aggressor. For these reasons, we need nuclear weapons.
Mr. Marlow
Will my right hon. Friend reassure those who have written to her about the unacceptable burdens on the British consumer of the common agricultural policy that she is seeking radical reforms of that policy? Will she say in which areas those reforms should take place?
The Prime Minister
We are most certainly seeking radical reform by a reduction of the enormous surpluses that take such a large proportion of the budget. We shall continue to seek that reform, both for its own sake and also as a necessity before we can reform the budget structure of the Community.
Mr. Campbell-Savours
Has the Prime Minister received much correspondence about the ITN production last week “The Silent Minority” which dealt with the tragic [column 859]position of the mentally handicapped? It showed major deficiencies in public expenditure. What does she intend to do about that?
The Prime Minister
Not to my knowledge. I saw a good deal of publicity about it, if, as I think, the hon. Gentleman and I are talking about the same thing. Speaking as a Member who has a very large mental hospital in her constituency, I can only say that I admire very much the wonderful work done by the vast majority of doctors and nurses who serve in those hospitals.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton
Can my right hon. Friend indicate how many of the letters out of the massive correspondence she has received have been on the subject [column 860]of the need by the Government to introduce further industrial relations legislation, particularly relating to the closed shop, the secret ballot and secondary action? I ask this question bearing in mind that she is addressing the CBI at its annual dinner this evening. I hope that she can give the CBI some reassurance.
The Prime Minister
When we get an example such as that of Joanna Harris, and other well-known cases, we get a large amount of correspondence, as we would expect, because such a case is contrary to the fundamental liberty of the individual. My right hon. Friend James Priorthe Secretary of State for Employment is receiving many representations about the Green Paper and it is quite on the cards that we may have more legislation next Session.