HC Deb 17 January 1974 vol 867 cc907-8
Q1 Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Prime Minister if he will list the official visits he made during the Christmas Recess.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 15th January, Sir.—[Vol. 867, c. 40.]

Mr. Cox

Is the Prime Minister aware that many people were shocked when he did not visit Brussels on the first anniversary of Britain's membership of the Community to rekindle the full-hearted consent of the British people? Is he further aware that as taxes and levies are placed on our food, and as a result of the fiasco of the regional policy, more and more people join the millions of Britons who are totally opposed to our membership? Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that when the General Election takes place it will not be the miners with whom he will have problems but that his problem will be to try to defend to the electorate his sell-out of our interests to the Community?

The Prime Minister

No.

Mr. Cormack

Will my right hon. Friend tell us whether he has any plans to visit Sandringham in the near future?

The Prime Minister

No.

Mr. Concannon

If the Prime Minister says that it is due to the miners not working on Saturdays and Sundays that the country is in the state it is in today, and that the miners are to blame for everything, why did he not take the opportunity during the Christmas Recess of visiting a coal mine or going down a coal mine? When was the last time the Prime Minister visited a coal mine? If he will let me have a date when he is free, I will gladly accompany him down any coal mine which he wishes to visit.

The Prime Minister

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's offer. I think that the whole House recognises the conditions in which miners are working. That is not the point in dispute regarding the offer which has been made to the miners. A special offer has been made under stage 3 because of the conditions in which some miners work.