§ Q2. Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Dundee.
§ The Prime MinisterI have at present no plans to do so, Sir, although, as the House knows, a series of meetings on industrial problems in Scotland has been arranged in the spring.
§ Mr. WilsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is high time he visited Dundee, a city which is suffering from an inordinate amount of unemployment? When he visits the city will he note that there will be tremendous anger about rumours of the Government's intention to cut off the Scottish railway system at Edinburgh and Glasgow? Is he aware that if that happens it will be a matter of great concern for the city, bearing in mind its inadequate road transport network and air communications?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no ministerial responsibility for rumours of that or any other kind. I shall not go to Dundee purely in pursuit of such a rumour. The hon. Gentleman will have heard my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment express himself in fairly strong language about a similar rumour that we were to cut off our railway system at Grimsby.
§ Mr. DalyellIs my right hon. Friend aware of the mounting concern throughout the east coast of Scotland about the tragic deaths of North Sea divers? Is there scope for an inquiry into such matters as the authority of the inspectors who visit the rigs?
§ Mr. SpeakerBefore the Prime Minister answers, I really think that supplementary questions should have some distant relationship with the Question on the Order Paper. A question of the sort raised by the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) could properly be placed on the Order Paper.
§ The Prime MinisterSince the supplementary question was asked, I refer my hon. Friend to the whole series of answers that I have given on the question of the safety of persons, the regulations governing mineral workings and the safety of structures. My hon. Friend will also be 229 aware that plans to deal with offshore emergencies are being dealt with, as are questions of training of staff to work in hyperbaric conditions.
§ Mr. GoodhewIf the Prime Minister will not go as far north as Dundee, perhaps he will come to St. Albans. When he comes to St. Albans—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. SkinnerWhat is wrong with it?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) should not address me in that manner. I must ask hon. Members to relate supplementary questions to Questions on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. GoodhewIf the Prime Minister goes to Dundee, will he stop off at St. Albans? Will he make certain that he brings with him his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, shows him the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Verulamium—sacked by Queen Boadicea—and points out what the British people will do under a woman leader if they are overtaxed?
§ The Prime MinisterThe question was about Dundee, not about St. Albans. The questions are wide enough already, without that matter being brought it. Should I go to St. Albans—and I have had a recent invitation to have a cup of tea with my PPS, who is an unhappy constituent of the hon. Gentleman—I shall recall what happened eventually to Boadicea. The hon. Member should advise his right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition that it is always best to try to solve the problems of this country by constitutional methods.