PRIME MINISTER
Engagements
Q1. Mr. Fatchett
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 March.
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 this House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.
[column 159]Mr. Fatchett
Last week the Prime Minister said that it was the responsibility of individuals to secure their own homes against the rising crime wave. Could she now tell the elderly of this country who are this week faced with enormous winter heating bills how she expects them to pay for their increased security, or was her reply last week just another example of her not caring for the people of this country?
The Prime Minister
The elderly can get help with crime prevention through the community programme and through the urban programme. In general, it is the personal responsibility of people to secure their own homes against crime, and it is well within their resources, at a time of a record standard of living, to do so. I recognise that the moment personal responsibility is mentioned the Opposition run a mile.
Mr. Onslow
Will my right hon. Friend take this opportunity to congratulate British Aerospace on the spectacular success of its Giotto spacecraft as well as on the fact that, overall, British Aerospace has the largest order book of any British manufacturer? Will she also join me in wishing that the BBC and members of the Opposition would sometimes do more to proclaim the national and international achievements of that privatised company?
The Prime Minister
Yes, I gladly join my hon. Friend in congratulating British Aerospace both on its commercial success and on its excellent performance in research and development, evidence of which is the Giotto project, which excited many of us when we saw it on television last week.
Mr. Steel
Following her meeting yesterday with the chairman of British Airways, Lord King, and the apparent favouritism shown to the General Motors bid for Land Rover, will the Prime Minister take this opportunity to dispel the impression that she is hostile to management-employee ownership of firms?
The Prime Minister
We could hardly be that when we got a management buy-out for Vickers.
Q2. Mr. Hirst
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 March.
The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Hirst
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the right to freedom of speech is a hallmark of a civilised and free society? Does she deplore the recent behaviour of a vocal minority of troublemakers on our university campuses who have sought to deny that right to Members of Parliament, Ministers and even university professors?
The Prime Minister
Yes, I agree with my hon. Friend. Higher education requires freedom of thought and freedom of speech. It is not for people who expect to have that for themselves to seek to deny it to others. I believe that most people condemn that action and that most vice-chancellors, particularly after the statements they have made, will be very anxious to do all they can to ensure that it does not occur again.
Q3. Mr. Corbyn
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 March.
The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
[column 160]Mr. Corbyn
Is the Prime Minister aware that her Government's first Budget in 1979 gave away more than £2 billion to those earning more than £20,000 a year, and that since her election in 1979 her Government have given £15,000 million in tax benefits to the wealthiest sector of the country? At the same time, taxation rates have never been higher for those earning less than £20,000 a year and unemployment has never been higher? Does she not agree that her Government's record is one of selflessly working for the wealthiest minority in the country?
The Prime Minister
No, Sir. Income tax has been cut by £6 billion, which is the equivalent of £260 a year for a married man on average earnings. Real take-home pay for a married man on half average earnings has risen since 1979 by 11 per cent., compared with only 2.5 per cent. under Labour.
Q4. Mr. Neil Thorne
asked the Prime Minister is she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 March.
The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Thorne
Will my right hon. Friend take time to consider the extraordinary behaviour of the leaders of the Opposition in their attitude—[Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman must ask a question about a subject for which the Prime Minister has responsibility.
Mr. Thorne
What is my right hon. Friend's response to the Opposition's behaviour—[Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker
That still does not fall within the Prime Minister's responsibility. The hon. Member can have one more go.
Mr. Thorne
Will my right hon. Friend consider the attitude of politicians who behave in such a way as to censor journalists acting for News International by refusing to contribute to its newspapers? Is that not one of the major reasons for the amount of violence on the picket lines at Wapping?
The Prime Minister
We totally condemn the censorship which is being practised in certain parts of the House against Mr. Murdoch and News International. We also condemn the censorship being practised against the Mirror Group in Scotland. We hope that others will join us in condemning such action.
Q5. Mr. Evans
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 March.
The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Evans
Why is the Prime Minister continuing her vindictive and cruel vendetta against the democratic, civil and individual rights of trade unionists at GCHO?
The Prime Minister
My right hon. and learned Friend Sir Geoffrey Howethe Foreign Secretary is seeing the GCHQ unions later this afternoon. The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the action, which has been condemned, that Civil Service unions took during the strike, and of the selective action that they took against the security organisations upon which we depend so much for our defence.
[column 161]Mr. Jim Spicer
Will my right hon. Friend accept the thanks of all the workers at Westland Helicopters for the efforts that she made on their behalf to secure the Indian contract?
The Prime Minister
The Indian order for Westland Helicopters has now been signed. That is a great relief and is very welcome. I first broached the subject with Mrs. Gandhi many years ago.
Q6. Mr. O'Neill
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 March.
The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. O'Neill
Will the Prime Minister tell the House and the country why she felt it more important to address Conservatives in Lowestoft last Saturday than to pay tribute to Olof Palme at his funeral?
The Prime Minister
I hope—[Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker
Order.
The Prime Minister
I hope that most people will understand that party political conferences, which are fixed from year to year, naturally command the attention of a leader. I shall be attending Mr. Palme 's memorial service on Thursday morning.
Mr. Gow
Will my right hon. Friend confirm that it remains the Government's policy to return British Airways to genuine public ownership at the earliest possible moment?
The Prime Minister
Yes, Sir.
Mr. Kinnock
Is the Prime Minister aware that many hundreds of worthwhile and vitally necessary, voluntary organisations in various localities have not yet been told whether they will continue to receive support after the Greater London council and metropolitan country councils cease to exist at the end of this month? As she must recognise the value of those organisations, and as her Ministers gave assurances about the continuation of support for them, will she ensure that emergency attention is given before 1 April?
The Prime Minister
As the right hon. Gentleman will be aware, many of the obligations were taken over either by central Government, as is the case with many organisations linked with the Arts Council, or by local authorities. Local authorities must consider those matters that have not yet been satisfactorily resolved.
Mr. Kinnock
In view of the Government's undertakings and the nature of many of the organisations, such as Age Concern, the widows' organisation, Cruse, playgroups and pensioner groups, will she accept that it is unfair to inflict further worries on the people who run voluntary organisations and on the many people who use them? Will she revise her answer to ensure that the Government accept their full responsibility?
The Prime Minister
The Government already give many headquarters grants to an enormous number of voluntary organisations. Indeed, speaking from memory, I think that taxpayers give more than £400 million to voluntary organisations.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton
Is my right hon. Friend aware that Macclesfield district is one of the best in the [column 162]country for youth training and youth employment prospects because of the responsible local authority in the area and the positive attitude of employers? Of the 2,000 school leavers on the last occasion, only 35 are now unemployed. Does that not give her encouragement that her policies are working? Even at this late stage, will she prevail upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer not to impose any added costs on industry and commerce?
The Prime Minister
On the latter point, my hon. Friend must await what Nigel Lawsonthe Chancellor of the Exchequer has to say. I congratulate my hon. Friend's local authority on its work with youth training schemes. It is important that we have the co-operation of local authorities and the supreme interest of employers. I congratulate my hon. Friend on what the local authority has done, and commend its example to others.
Oswaldtwistle
Q8. Mr. Hargreaves
asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to pay an official visit to Oswaldtwistle.
The Prime Minister
I have at present no plans to do so.
Mr. Hargreaves
The people of the Quadrangle area of Oswaldtwistle will share my disappointment at that reply. Does my right hon. Friend agree that home improvement grants are the most cost-effective method of providing decent houses for our people? If so, will she have a final word with our right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer so that he also gets the message?
The Prime Minister
Home improvement grants have been an excellent way of renovating many houses, and the level is still comparatively high compared with what it was when we came to office. A number of good rehabilitation schemes involving housing associations and the Housing Corporation have raised the standard of housing in my hon. Friend's area. Instead of bringing the bulldozer in, they have done up some terraced houses, to the great benefit of the people who live there.
Engagements
Q9. Mr. Meadowcroft
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 March.
The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Meadowcroft
Does the Prime Minister accept that the growing differential between pay for those in work, who have increased their rates beyond the rate of inflation, and those out of work is an embittering factor in our society? Will the Government's post-Budget policies narrow that differential and reduce the bitterness?
The Prime Minister
The hon. Gentleman is correct in saying that most people in work have had substantial pay increases and increases in net take-home pay. How much those out of work get depends on their particular circumstances and social security benefits. In some cases it is necessary to widen the gap between what they receive in social security benefits and what they receive in work.
Mr. Grylls
Is my right hon. Friend aware that most people will applaud the Government's decision to allow Vickers Shipbuilders to be returned to the private sector by means of a management buy-out? Will she assure the [column 163]House that the Government will give careful consideration to the proposed management buy-out from Land Rover group, which has blue chip financial backing, and will allow the company and the people who work in it to enjoy the future success of Land Rover?
The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend Paul Channonthe Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is giving close consideration to all the bids for parts of British Leyland, and will make a statement when he is in a position to do so, but that is not yet.
Mr. Wigley
Will the Prime Minister find time today to take to heart the anger of the leaders of disablement organisations at the intention of the Government to emasculate the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Bill, which provides for those most in need, the carers who look after disabled people? Will the Government reconsider their position?
The Prime Minister
As hon. Members will know, the Government's position is to try to secure a Bill that is workable and that will continue to be so. I must also point out that the record of this Government on providing increased help for the disabled is outstanding, and greatly exceeds that of any previous Government.
[column 164]Q10. Mr. Martin
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 18 March.
The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Martin
Is it not madness that British Rail is closing railway workshops at a time when our railway engineering stock needs modernising? Will the right hon. Lady intervene in this matter?
The Prime Minister
As the hon. Gentleman is aware, some of the new rolling stock requires much less maintenance and redesigning than the old, and we are not able to keep workshops open unless there is work for them to do.