MINISTERIAL BROADCASTS (Hansard, 15 July 1976)

§ Q1. Mr. Peter Morrison
asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to make a ministerial broadcast.

§ The Prime Minister (Mr. James Callaghan)
I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Lawson) on 27th April.

§ Mr. Morrison
When the Prime Minister makes a ministerial broadcast will he explain to the nation which Bills he intends to drop this Session as a result of the muddle brought about by the Leader of the House?

§ The Prime Minister
By the time I make my next ministerial broadcast those Bills will be well on the way through the House, so I shall not need to refer to them.

§ Mr. MacFarquhar
When my right hon. Friend makes his broadcast, will he make a more forthright reply to the Leader of the Opposition and tell her that if she is anxious to recommend the right hon. Member for Sidcup (Mr. Heath) as one of the two Commissioners in Brussels he will give that suggestion earnest consideration?

§ The Prime Minister
I do not wish to make any mischief between Members of the Opposition. I have enough troubles of my own. Of course, I shall consider any suggestions that the right hon. Lady may wish to put to me in that regard, but having looked at the precedents since yesterday I find that on the last occasion an appointment of this sort was made it was made without any consultation with the Leader of the Opposition at the time.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
When the Prime Minister next broadcasts to the nation, will he mention the position of British citizens—business men and missionaries—in Uganda? Their safety is of paramount concern to the people of this country. Will he tell the House what representations he has made to the 897 President of Uganda and what representations have been made by other international bodies, such as the EEC, the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity, about the safety of British citizens?

§ The Prime Minister
I have some personal experience of this matter, because a year ago I found to my astonishment that when I went to the High Commissioner's house 350 British citizens had assembled there at 24 hours' notice. I mingled with them and talked to them about their position, and I judge from that conversation that most of them are long-serving residents of Uganda who know the risks they are running. It is for them to assess those risks. Some will leave Uganda. Others will never leave, because they regard Uganda as their home. The time has come when I would say to British citizens "You know the risks, you know the limitations on our capacity to assist you when you are dispersed throughout the country. Please assess those risks as much as you can and take your own decision."
What has happened in Uganda in recent days does not lead me to believe that any representations by me to President Amin would have any effect. I expect him to account for the death of Mrs. Bloch. It is right that he should carry out what he said to our High Commissioner when he was there. Every nation has the right to ask that the fate of one of its citizens should be known to the home country, in this case either Israel or ourselves. I do not regard President Amin as having carried out that obligation yet.

§ Mr. Greville Janner
Will my right hon. Friend also ask for a full inquiry from President Amin and, if possible, the return of the remains of Mrs. Bloch's body to her family?

§ The Prime Minister
I do not propose at this stage to communicate with President Amin. We have a representative in Uganda, and he should make such representations as are necessary in these matters.

§ Mr. Fairbairn
In considering the fate of citizens who are arrested in Uganda, will the Prime Minister take steps, with other members of the Commonwealth, to ensure the safety and to discover the fate 898 of Kenyan citizens who may have been massacred by the Ugandan authorities as an act of spite?

§ The Prime Minister
Relations between Uganda and Kenya have been getting more difficult as the days have passed. I think that Kenya has been subjected to an unjustifiable campaign. I hope that in so far as we can give assistance to Kenyan citizens who need help we shall do so, but on balance I think that the Kenyan Government are best able to do that.

§ Q2. Mr. Canavan
asked the Prime Minister how many ministerial broadcasts he has made in the last month.

§ The Prime Minister
None.

§ Mr. Canavan
In view of the annual estimate of at least £300 million of unclaimed supplementary benefit, will my right hon. Friend make a broadcast encouraging needy people to claim for benefits to which they are entitled? In view of the scurrilous, unsubstantiated allegations that 20 per cent. of claims are fraudulent and that half the unemployed are scroungers, and bearing in mind the estimate of at least £500 million annually which is stolen by rich tax evaders, would not that be a more worthwhile cause to be pursued by cheap Right-wing sensationalists, such as the Sproats and Knights of this world?

§ The Prime Minister
Inquiries have shown that a number of genuine claimants who should receive their entitlement do not do so. It would be a misfortune if those who genuinely need assistance were to be deterred from claiming it because of the activities of a swindler who has rightly been convicted and given a heavy sentence. We all know from our constituencies how our own people, in many cases honest, decent and hardworking, deeply resent the abuses that take place, but I invite the House to keep this matter in proportion in relation to the benefits that the House has agreed that those in need should draw and not be driven into accepting a situation in which decent, honourable people are discouraged from making their claims.

§ Mr. David Steel
Since the cuts in public expenditure that the Government are now planning are bound to affect many Government Departments, will the 899 Prime Minister undertake to make a broadcast explaining them to the country and not leave that to the Chancellor of the Exchequer? When may we expect that broadcast to take place?

§ The Prime Minister
The decision on whether the broadcast should be made by the Chancellor or myself can be left for a little later. As for when we shall make the decision, I cannot go further than I have in response to previous questions by the Leader of the Opposition, namely, that it would be very convenient if we could reach a conclusion on this matter and inform the House before we rise for the recess.

§ Mr. Ioan Evans
Is my right hon. Friend aware that if he makes a ministerial broadcast it will give the Leader of the Opposition the right of reply? Is he further aware that if the right hon. Lady took that right we could then try to discover why the Opposition are calling for increased public expenditure in numerous ways, and especially for a heavy increase in defence spending, but are saying that we should cut it back in general?

§ The Prime Minister
I had not thought of that advantage in making my broadcast. My hon. Friend has certainly encouraged me to make it.

§ Mr. McCrindle
Will the Prime Minister consider making a broadcast that will make absolutely clear the position of the Government on the one hand and the Labour Party on the other about the nationalisation of the "big four" banks and the "big seven" insurance companies? Will he make an estimate of the effect on the balance of payments if invisible earnings from both those sources were to dry up?

§ The Prime Minister
No, I do not think that I shall make a broadcast on that matter. We are capable of settling it ourselves.