HC Deb 03 December 1974 vol 882 cc1347-9
Q4. Mr. Steen

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Wavertree.

Mr. Edward Short

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

Mr. Steen

As the Prime Minister's constituency borders on mine, he will know that a motorway, a railway, a flyover and now four railway tunnels are to be built in one residential area. The Prime Minister will be concerned——

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman must ask a question.

Mr. Steen

Is the Prime Minister concerned that the people in the area who wish to leave it will be unable to get sufficient compensation to move to comparable homes in other areas? Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Prime Minister to come over the border, meet residents and assure them that people really will come first in this matter?

Mr. Short

People always come first in Labour Party and Labour Government policy. A Select Committee of the House has already examined these proposals and allowed the Bill to continue. Objections can be lodged by presenting a petition against the Bill in the other place, and petitions will be considered by a Select Committee, which will have the benefit of expert advice. But I shall pass on to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister the local points raised by the hon. Gentleman. I may say that no Member of this House visits his constituency more frequently than my right hon. Friend visits his.

Mr. Ogden

Will my right hon. Friend urge the Prime Minister, on one of his frequent visits to Merseyside, to visit the constituency of Wavertree, because the people there very much need the help of a Labour Prime Minister and of a Labour Member of Parliament? Will my right hon. Friend ensure that the Prime Minister takes a guide with him because, during the last General Election, the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Steen) was wandering around West Derby trying to get votes for Wavertree?

Mr. Short

The people of Wavertree and of all the other constituencies in Britain already have the services of a Labour Prime Minister.

Q5. Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to Melton Mowbray.

Mr. Edward Short

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to visit Leicestershire.

Mr. Latham

Will not the right hon. Gentleman induce the Prime Minister to make such a visit in order to explain to my outraged self-employed constituents why he wants to impose a heavy addition on them next year for no added insurance benefits?

Mr. Short

There was a full day's debate on this matter last week. Self-employed persons are getting a very good bargain out of the new legislation.

Mr. Dykes

Bearing in mind the intrinsic fascination and interest of what the right hon. Gentleman said in reply to the previous Question, and that Melton Mowbray is en route to Huyton, will the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many times the Prime Minister visited Huyton in the last 12 months?

Mr. Short

No, I cannot. As my right hon. Friend visits his constituency on constituency matters, it would not be a proper question for this House.