PRIME MINISTER
Falkland Islands
Q1. Mr. Dalyell
asked the Prime Minister what has been the total cost to public funds of the military presence and civil units in the Falkland Islands since the cessation of hostilities.
The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)
The records do not distinguish between costs arising before the cessation of hostilities and those arising subsequently. The extra cost to the defence budget of the operation to repossess the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Southern Thule, including the maintenance of our forces up to the end of September and the replacement of lost equipment, is estimated to be about £700 million. some extra costs, of much smaller dimensions, have fallen on the votes of civil Departments, and £10 million. Some extra costs, of much smaller dimensions, have fallen on the votes of civil Departments, and £10 million has so far been allocated to rehabilitation, of which £8.6 million has been committed.
Mr. Dalyell
In saying that the Falkland crisis came out of the blue, does the Prime Minister mean that she had no warning of invasion before Wednesday 31 March?
The Prime Minister
I have already made it clear in my speeches during the debate on the Falklands campaign that that was so, so far as the Falkland Islands were concerned.
Mr. Stokes
Is my right hon. Friend aware that, despite what we have heard from the Opposition, the vast majority of the British public greatly admire her strong stand on the whole Falklands situation and that, with regard to the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell), in Mr. Attlee 's words, a period of silence on his part would be welcomed?
The Prime Minister
I believe that the whole House is glad that the people of the Falkland Islands have been restored to freedom and justice as a result of the bravery and valour of our Armed Forces.
Mr. Bidwell
Will the right hon. Lady now say whether her notion of a “fortress Falkland” into the distant future is now sustained in her mind? As the Argentines and South Americans are far closer to those islands than we shall ever be, and as the cost of sustaining a powerful military presence will be an economic drain in the future, is it not sensible to think that, with a new regime and democratic developments in Argentina, this notion on her [column 886]part will be blown away and that there must eventually be a South American involvement in the administration of those islands.
The Prime Minister
The people of the Falkland Islands, being a democratic and free people, have that right to determine their own future. We have the right here, and because of it the hon. Gentleman is elected to this House. I may not agree with that decision, but I defend the right of the people concerned to make their own decisions.
Engagements
Q2. Mr. Pawsey
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.
The Prime Minister
This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.
Mr. Pawsey
Is my right hon. Friend aware that a new trade union has been launched today to safeguard the interests of nursery nurses and that that new trade union is pledged not to strike? Will she compare that responsible attitude with some of the actions of the trade unions involved in the National Health Service dispute?
The Prime Minister
No-strike rules in rule books are to be welcomed, and the new organisation is to be congratulated on the stance that it has taken. It follows the example of a similar union for professional teachers, which has stated that it will not strike. It is refreshing to find people who put the requirements of their job and their duty to children before their own selfish needs.
Mr. Foot
In view of the terrifying problems of the steel industry, will the right hon. Lady explain why she refused to receive a deputation from Scotland dealing with the steel industry this morning? Will she give us a clear assurance that, now that the matter is being dealt with by the Government, there will be no closure at Ravenscraig or any of the other main plants that are being threatened? Will she now go back on the statement that she made last Thursday about not wishing to introduce import controls to deal with this problem, and a similar problem in the motor industry?
The Prime Minister
The petition was handed in to No. 10 this morning by people working in the steel industry, and was received there. The right hon. Gentleman asks me to give undertakings about the future of particular plants. Yes, there is a serious problem in the steel industry here, in Europe and the world over. That problem is being reviewed by the British Steel Corporation. Any decisions about any major plants will be taken not by the British Steel Corporation alone but with the Government. We prefer to look at the figures and the proposals placed before us before reaching a decision.
With regard to imports, the right hon. Gentleman will have seen the statement by my right hon. Friend Patrick Jenkinthe Secretary of State for Industry the other day. We are pressing the Commission for stronger measures of voluntary restraint with regard to importing steel into the Community. We are pressing the Community to uphold the agreements between the countries in the Community about quotas.
Mr. Foot
Will the Prime Minister say when some action will be taken to stop the flood of imports which [column 887]threaten the future of the whole of British Steel and of other sections of industry, such as the motor industry? On the question of the major plants, does the right hon. Lady know that Mr. MacGregor has already said that the future of Ravenscraig and the other plants rests with the Government? When will the Government make a statement to the effect that these plants will be sustained in the interests of British industry as a whole?
The Prime Minister
I have already told the right hon. Gentleman that arrangements for the import of steel into the Community are made through the Community by way of voluntary restraint arrangements, and we are urging the Community to tighten those arrangements. Total import penetration of the United Kingdom steel market remains significantly lower than in a number of our European competitors. It is, nevertheless, very serious. However, action must be taken through the Community.
With regard to imports of cars, it would be wrong to put a protective barrier around the United Kingdom car industry. That would lead to inefficiency and loss of export markets. We try to have voluntary restraint agreements, such as the one with Japan, between motor car industries. The real protection, if I may put it that way, is for the industry to be competitive and to produce excellent cars.
Sir Bernard Braine
Despite her busy schedule, has my right hon. Friend's attention yet been drawn to the discovery in Argentina, in unmarked graves, of hundreds of victims of the Argentine junta? Is she aware that some 15,000 people at least disappeared from 1976 onwards? Is she taking any steps to ascertain whether, among these people, there have yet been found any bodies of the British subjects who disappeared during that time?
The Prime Minister
As I believe my hon. Friend knows, we have been in touch, for a number of years, with the Argentine Government, asking about the fate of certain British subjects. We are only too painfully aware of the human rights record of the Argentine Government, which is why, I believe, neither our country nor the House hesitated to free our own people in the Falklands from his tyranny.
Mr. Roy Jenkins
If British industry is now becoming so much more streamlined and competitive, as the Prime Minister claims, why are we now more vulnerable to imports than ever before?
The Prime Minister
British industry has become very much more competitive over the past year, but one year's improvement does not catch up with the many years of enormous increases in pay over production of the kind that took place when the right hon. Gentleman was in office.
Mr. J. Enoch Powell
Has the right hon. Lady noticed that those consequences of the Northern Ireland Act that were feared and predicted by those who, like herself, were opposed to it, have not been slow to appear? What are now her intentions?
The Prime Minister
The Act was a Government measure. The people having been elected under its provisions, the Assembly must be set up.
Gibraltar
Q3. Mr. Latham
asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a further statement on the future of Gibraltar.
[column 888]The Prime Minister
No new date has yet been set for implementing the Lisbon agreement. Future economic prospects in the light of continued Spanish restrictions and the closure of the naval dockyard were discussed by my noble Friend Lord Belstead, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, when he visited Gibraltar from 21 to 23 July and again between my right hon. Friend Francis Pymthe Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, and the Chief Minister on 24 September. We remain in close touch with Gibraltar on all aspects of her affairs.
Mr. Latham
Can my right hon. Friend say when the Government are proposing to announce the five-year capital aid programme for Gibraltar, which is already 18 months overdue? Will she ensure that it is devoted to specific capital projects and not a general grant-in-aid?
The Prime Minister
A development programme was submitted about 18 months ago. Decisions on that were changed when the question of the dockyard arose, and a revised programme was submitted last month. That is being urgently considered and we shall make decisions upon it as quickly as is humanly possible. In the meantime, as my hon. Friend knows, some £4 million was allocated to Gibraltar for urgent projects last December.
Mr. Joseph Dean
Will the Prime Minister take time today to deny reports——
Mr. Speaker
Order. This is a closed question.
Mr. McQuarrie
Bearing in mind the comments that my right hon. Friend has made about £4 million of capital aid, is she aware that only £2 million of that has so far been given to Gibraltar? Can she say when the further £2 million will be allocated to the territory?
The Prime Minister
I understand that the money was allocated to urgent projects. If there is a need for the other £2 million quickly, perhaps my hon. Friend will get in touch about the project for which it is needed.
Mr. Pavitt
At the conclusion of the Spanish general election, will the Prime Minister be making contact with the new Government about Gibraltar? Will she tell us whether that contact will be through the Foreign Secretary or through her new adviser at No. 10 Downing Street?
The Prime Minister
Following the Spanish general election we shall be in touch with the new Government as is normal. No new adviser has been appointed to No. 10.
Q4. Mr. Proctor
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.
The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Proctor
During the course of my right hon. Friend's busy day, will she have the opportunity to see reports to the effect that 800 social workers employed by the Conservative-controlled Birmingham city council are on strike against the council's determination to get better value for money for the Birmingham ratepayer? Is this not disgraceful, and will my right hon. Friend take this opportunity to urge these strikers to return to work forthwith?
The Prime Minister
I deplore the action taken by the council staff. It is in the interests of all ratepayers to get [column 889]the best value for money and to have as efficient a working operation as it is possible to achieve, which includes considering the possibility of putting out certain services to private contractors.
Mr. Joseph Dean
Will the Prime Minister take time today to deny the reports currently circulating to the effect that the Secretary of State for the Environment is planning a further increase in council house rents of £2 per week, and that he is deliberately delaying a decision until after the by-elections at Northfield and Peckham?
The Prime Minister
Public expenditure decisions for next year have not yet been made.
Mrs. Knight
During the course of my right hon. Friend's busy day, will she consider the position in Birmingham, where the city council's treasurer's department is refusing to pay money owed by it to small business men, suppliers and contractors? Will she comment on that matter, which is putting many small businesses at grave risk and undoubtedly increasing the danger of further unemployment?
The Prime Minister
Prompt payment should be the usual rule. It is especially important to ensure that it is [column 890]adhered to in the case of small businesses. I join my hon. Friend in making an appeal for payment to be made immediately.
Mr. Eadie
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. When my right hon. Friend the hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Foot) asked the Prime Minister why she did not meet representatives of the triple alliance—which represents hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland—this morning, she failed to give the House an answer. Why did she not meet them?
Mr. Speaker
That is not a point of order.
Mr. Phillip Whitehead (Derby, North)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I have given only brief notice of a point of order about the rights of the House, on which I seek your guidance——
Mr. Speaker
Order. I have received notice from another hon. Member that he intends to raise the same point of order. I propose to deal with it following an application under Standing Order No. 9, which is the usual time to deal with such matters.