HC Deb 11 April 1974 vol 872 cc629-30
Q1. Mr. Ridley

asked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Southall.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

I have at present no plans to do so, Sir.

Mr. Ridley

In that case will the Prime Minister invite the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr. Bidwell) to visit his five homes, of which the hon. Member appears to disapprove, to show him that they are all put to good use and that there is nothing to complain about? Will he further assure his hon. Friend that to own three houses is in no sense a social injustice, and is no worse than land reclamation?

The Prime Minister

My hon. Friend is perfectly capable of speaking up for himself. I am sure the hon. Gentleman recognises that I do not have a house in Southall.

Mr. Bidwell

I assure my right hon. Friend that if he should change his mind and visit Southall, in my division, he will receive a warm-hearted, multi-racial, new-fashioned Socialist welcome. Is he aware that some memories are sufficiently long to recall that the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley), who tabled this Question, was known at the time of the Upper Clyde shipbuilding business as "Butcher Ridley"?

The Prime Minister

I thank my hon. Friend. I remember the warm-hearted multi-racial, new-fashioned welcome which I received last time I was in Southall. Anyone in Southall must attach first importance to the problem of the multi-racial community there. There has been great success in solving this. The House will be aware of the interest some of us have taken in the work done by the late Hugh Anderson, who founded special facilities there for helping various groups to come together.