HC Deb 06 May 1975 vol 891 cc1211-3
Q4. Mr. Rost

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to make his next ministerial broadcast.

Mr. Edward Short

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. Steel) on 20th March.

Mr. Rost

I sympathise with the Prime Minister for wanting to spend so much of his time abroad rather than face the problems at home, and particularly his incompetent and squabbling Ministers, but will he not stay at home long enough to go on television simply to show us that he is still around, even if he no longer has the authority to deal with the economic mess that his policies are creating?

Mr. Short

The Prime Minister, as the House knows, is at the Commonwealth Conference. On his way back he has been invited by President Ford to stop in Washington and to have discussions with him. I should have thought that the whole House would have given him leave of absence for that purpose. With regard to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question, I would point out that the Labour Party, under the Prime Minister's leadership, has won four of the last five elections. When the next election comes, whenever it is, the hon. Gentleman will certainly discover that the Prime Minister is about.

Mr. Skinner

Does my right hon. Friend agree that whatever our right hon. Friend is doing abroad he has certainly not gone for a yachting holiday? What is more important is that if anyone could be accused of gallivanting about the country or elsewhere, it is the leader of the Opposition. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the right hon. Lady seems to be taking every opportunity to get out of this place and that even when she is in it she cannot muster sufficient forces to oppose the Government, so much so that last night on the debate on unemployment the Opposition were so split that they could not even force a vote?

Mr. Short

I think that we must be courteous to the right hon. Lady. She has got to get round and get known in the country.

Mr. Peyton

My right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition is already doing very well in the country. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my right hon. and hon. Friends would willingly assent to giving the Prime Minister leave of absence? In fact, we would not notice his absence very much at all. Further, will the Lord President arrange for his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry to make a broadcast on behalf of the Government, as he alone is able effectively to give voice to the Government's current policies, which are infernally damaging to the country?

Mr. Short

I do not think that it would be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to make that broadcast.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Will my right hon. Friend urge the Prime Minister to make a ministerial broadcast when he returns from the Commonwealth Conference in order that he may explain to the British people the overwhelming and resounding support of all the Prime Ministers at the conference for our continued membership of the EEC?

Mr. Short

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has a considerable speaking programme on the referendum when he returns. I have no doubt that he will make just that point on many occasions.

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