HC Deb 29 March 1973 vol 853 cc1528-36
Mr. Harold Wilson

May I ask the Leader of the House whether he will state the business for next week?

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. James Prior)

The business for the next week will be as follows:

MONDAY 2ND APRIL—Second Reading of the Finance Bill.

Second Reading of the Costs in Criminal Cases Bill [Lords], which is a consolidation measure.

Motions relating to the Sugar (Distribution Payments) Orders.

TUESDAY 3RD APRIL—Supply (14th allotted day).

There will be a debate on Prices and Europe, which will arise on an Opposition motion.

At seven o'clock, the Chairman of Ways and Means has named opposed Private Business for consideration.

Remaining stages of the Administration of Justices Bill [Lords].

Motions on the Housing (Payments for Well Maintained Houses) Order and on the Anti-Dumping Duty Order

WEDNESDAY 4TH APRIL—Second Reading of the Protection of Aircraft Bill [Lords].

Remaining stages of the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Bill [Lords] and of the Education Bill [Lords].

Second Reading of the Education (Work Experience) Bill [Lords].

Motions on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Modifications) Order and on the Calf Subsidies (United Kingdom) (Variation) Scheme.

THURSDAY 5TH APRIL—Supply (15th allotted day).

There will be a debate on the Army, on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.

Remaining stages of the Costs in Criminal Cases Bill [Lords].

Motion relating to the Motor Cycles (Wearing of Helmets) Regulations.

FRIDAY 6TH APRIL—Private Members' Bills.

MONDAY 9TH APRIL—Supply (16th allotted day).

Debate on a subject to be announced.

Mr. Wilson

Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position yet to tell the House when we may expect the debate in Government time on television and broadcasting?

Secondly, has the right hon. Gentleman seen Early Day Motion No. 257 about Commonwealth sugar? In view of the deep anxiety, which is not confined to the Opposition side of the House, that, as we forecast two years ago, the Commonwealth sugar producers have been sold down the river in the negotiations in Brussels, will the right hon. Gentleman arrange for an authoritative Government statement on this matter next week?

Thirdly, will the right hon. Gentleman arrange for a statement to be made next week on the subject of building society mortgages in view of the clear lack of understanding on the part of the Prime Minister about either the causes of the rise in interest rates or what it means for an average family?

[That this House, noting the forthcoming meeting in London between the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the trade ministers of Commonwealth sugar-producing countries, calls on Her Majesty's Government to reaffirm in unqualified terms their commitment to ensuring the access of 1.4 millions tons per year of Commonwealth sugar to the European Economic Community.]

Mr. Prior

On the first point—a debate on broadcasting—I cannot promise a debate in the immediate future, owing to the pressure of business, but I recognise that the House will want to have a debate, if I can arrange it. I do not think that it will be possible before Easter, but it will certainly be possible soon after Easter.

On the right hon. Gentleman's second point about the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, I shall bring his remarks to the attention of my right hon. Friend. But I am able to confirm that the 1.4 million tons, the figure for the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, remains the Government's firm intention, as stated in the Lancaster House agreement of 1971.

Regarding building society mortgage rates, the building societies made a statement about 10 days ago and that remains the present position. But I will convey the right hon. Gentleman's views to my right hon. Friend.

Dr. Stultaford

Will my right hon. Friend propose a motion to change the composition of Standing Committee G in respect of the National Health Service Reorganisation Bill on the ground that it has not taken into account the views of the House as expressed in the Second Reading debate or the views of part of the Government side of the House as expressed in Early Day Motion No. 177? As it stands now, the Committee represents a manipulative measure more designed to assuage the anxieties of party managers than to be fair to Government back benches, and so does not represent fair principles of democracy and will tend to bring into disrepute the workings of the House in the country.

[That this House, taking account of a recommendation of the Select Committee on Science and Technology in its Fifth Report, that the Government should take immediate steps to provide comprehensive family planning and birth control services as a normal part of the National Health Service, and noting the Amendment (No. 37) made to the National Health Service Reorganisation Bill in the House of Lords to the effect that no charge should be made for such services or medical supplies, calls upon the Government to act without delay on these two propositions.]

Mr. Prior

The answer to that is "No, Sir." I believe that over the years the Selection Committee has done an extremely good job for all hon. Members, and I think that it must be a matter for the Selection Committee and not for other hon. Members to interfere.

Dr. Dickson Mabon

Has the right hon. Gentleman read what the Minister of Agriculture said yesterday, reported at c. 1308 of HANSARD, about the necessity for a Supplementary Estimate to cover the supplementary payments to refiners in the United Kingdom to improve the margin? When is it likely that we shall get this Supplementary Estimate, and why is it that the Supplementary Estimate will cover only the period until 30th June? Would not it be wise for the Estimate to cover a period much longer than that?

Mr. Prior

I shall convey the hon. Gentleman's views to my right hon. Friend. I could not give an answer myself, but I shall let my right hon. Friend know, and I shall get in touch with the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Jeffrey Archer

Is my right hon. Friend able to say when the promised announcement by the Secretary of State for the Environment about the allocation of rooms in Somerset House will be made to the House?

Mr. Prior

I have written to my hon. Friend on this subject. My right hon. and learned Friend is holding consultations and hopes that these will be completed shortly.

Mr. Urwin

The right hon. Gentleman will probably be aware of the Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer), which is aimed at outlawing labour-only subcontracting, but is he aware of the growing urgency of the situation in the construction industry and of the very serious problems which are evolving, primarily for local authorities, in the construction of council housing because of the operation of labour-only sub-contracting? Does not he agree that people involved in this pernicious practice can virtually demand their own price for their labour, completely outwith the construction industry's negotiated agreement? Having regard to these very difficult problems, will the Leader of the House seriously consider allowing Government time—because my hon. Friend's Bill will take some time to become a Statute—for the House to discuss the serious problems affecting local authorities not only in London but throughout the country?

Mr. Prior

I will convey the hon. Gentleman's views to my right hon. and hon. Friends, who will no doubt discuss them. We all recognise the need to keep down the cost of building wherever possible.

Mr. Kilfedder

In view of the lies put out by Mark Press against this country—and I remind the House that Mark Press is the Irish Republic's public relations company—that there is no trail of guns, ammunitions and explosives from Eire into Northern Ireland for use by the IRA, will the right hon. Gentleman make a statement as soon as possible about the steps which are being taken to stop ships carrying such cargo coming from the Mediterranean—one of which, as we heard yesterday evening, was captured by the Eire Government? What surveillance is being maintained to prevent the importation and smuggling of guns and explosives into Northern Ireland?

Mr. Prior

This is a subject which my hon. Friend can raise this afternoon, but on the whole I believe that the House has good reason to be satisfied with the news today.

Mr. Faulds

Since it is now generally accepted that the Government are about to abandon the imposition of museum charges, will the Leader of the House clear the air for staff and trustees of the national institutions, and lessen the hesitations of intending benefactors, by making clear that the Government will announce the abandonment of this ridiculous scheme?

Mr. Prior

I have no further statement to make on that subject.

Mr. Gorst

Will my right hon. Friend say whether it will be possible to find time to debate the reintroduction of capital punishment for politically-motivated crimes?

Mr. Prior

I can see no time available in the immediate future, although I understand there will be an opportunity for the House to discuss this matter briefly in the next week or so.

Mr. David Steel

When will the Leader of the House set up the Select Committee on British interests in South Africa, in view of the encouragement given to this course by the Prime Minister?

Mr. Prior

There is, of course, concern about this matter, which the whole House shares, but I have nothing to add to what was said by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister yesterday.

Mr. Marten

Will my right hon. Friend give the House an assurance that within the next week or 30 days he will allow time for a debate on the ever-increasing pile of secondary legislation that is coming in from the Common Market in draft form? Is he aware that this deals with basic domestic laws and that these matters are being debated elsewhere but not in this House? That is not right

Mr. Prior

I hope to find some time in the near future to bring about what my hon. Friend has long wished for.

Mr. Shore

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have in my hand the first issue of the draft agenda of the next meeting of the Council of Ministers in April—a document which was made available for the first time only yesterday? Is he aware that the agenda contains many important items, including amendment of the law on tachographs, aid for hill farmers, pricing policy in the Common Market for 1973–74 and many other matters which are to be discussed next month at the meeting of the Ministers? Will he arrange to find time, if not this week then the following week, to discuss some of these matters? Will he think again about making an oral statement on the draft agenda for the Council rather than making a statement in written form?

Mr. Prior

I hope that it is proving of some convenience for the House to have this list of likely items in the discussion which will take place. As for the making of monthly oral statements about each month's forecast of business, I confirm what I said in my statement on 13 th March I then informed the House, in answer to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. S. James A. Hill), that a forecast of each month's business would be deposited with us on Tuesday. We can discuss the other point raised by the right hon. Gentleman in the debate which I have promised before Easter.

Rev. Ian Paisley

In view of the statement yesterday by the Minister that the Bill to enable elections to be held in Northern Ireland will be put before the House as soon as possible, and because of the urgency of these elections, will the right hon. Gentleman say when the Bill is to be presented?

Mr. Prior

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland may have more to say about that subject this afternoon. I will leave it to him.

Mr. Harold Wilson

May I press the right hon. Gentleman further about a Select Committee on South Africa? We regarded the Prime Minister's statement on Tuesday on this subject as helpful, but is the Leader of the House aware that if the Prime Minister's statement is to mean anything—and I believe that it was intended to mean something—either the existing Select Committee must interpret its terms of reference in a way which will enable it to go to South Africa or to send hon. Members to South Africa, or —as would appear to be more appropriate—the Government, and the Leader of the House himself, must take the initiative in establishing a new committee. Will he move to set up a new Select Committee? If not, does he agree that it is within the authority of existing Select Committees to make their own arrangements to go to South Africa?

Mr. Prior

I am not convinced that a new Select Committee is required—given that other Select Committees may consider that this is a matter for them to go into, and given also the other action which is now being taken.

Mr. Frank Allaun

When are we to have the promised Government proposals to deal with land hoarding? It may be remembered that the Secretary of State for the Environment promised that they would be produced this month. He will have a job to produce them this month when one considers that today is 29th March. Is there some difficulty in plugging up loopholes in the legislation, or is there some other reason for delay? May we be told when the House will have the proposals?

Mr. Prior

Early next month.

Mr. Winterton

The House has spent considerable time recently in debating family planning. Would it not help those in this House who have young families to plan for the future if they knew details of the Easter recess? May we now have the details?

Mr. Prior

Not this week.

Mr. Hugh D. Brown

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when the Hardman Committee report is to be discussed in the House, or, indeed, how it will be dealt with? This is a matter of considerable public interest in terms of the future of Western Scotland and at the moment it is difficult to know how the Government intend to process that report.

Mr. Prior

It is an important report, and some time ago I told the House that it had been received. Consultations are now taking place, and I will convey the hon. Gentleman's remarks to the appropriate quarters.

Mr. Thorpe

The Leader of the House was trying to be helpful in saying that he felt that there was no need for a new Select Committee to be set up on the question of South Africa, and he implied that he felt that an existing Select Committee might be adequate to deal with this problem. Which Select Committee did the right hon. Gentleman have in mind?

Mr. Prior

It is not for me to give that information. There are opportunities for the various Select Committees to interest themselves in this matter if they wish to do so.

Mr. Callaghan

Further to that point, will the right hon. Gentleman, before he meets me at 5.30 p.m. today to discuss this matter further, consider whether a sub-committee of the Expenditure Committee might go into this matter, especially since one sub-committee is about to complete its work on regional incentives? Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether its chairman and members would be willing to take on this new task? If that were done, perhaps our meeting would be more fruitful.

Mr. Prior

This is a matter for Select Committees or for their sub-committees to decide for themselves.

Mr. Callaghan

In that case, will the Minister look into the situation before 5.30 this afternoon, because my inquiries show that some members of the subcommittee of the Expenditure Committee to which I have referred would be willing to take on this task before Easter?

Mr. Prior

I am not certain that it is the job of the Leader of the House to direct any sub-committee or Select Committee to inquire into anything. It is a matter for them.

Several Hon. Members rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I remind the House that we have before us a very important debate.