§ Q3. Mr. Tebbitasked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Hounslow.
§ The Prime MinisterI have at present no plans to do so.
§ Mr. TebbitAs Hounslow is one of the places that would have been affected by the Prime Minister's efforts to amend the Boundary Commission report in favour of the Labour Party a few years ago, would it not be a good place for the right hon. Gentleman to visit, so that he can explain to the people whether there are any limits to his willingness to alter the rules of the game to get the result that he wants?
§ The Prime MinisterThe House will take a decision on the matters that are before it today. I am told that there is a majority of the House that is not composed of members of the Labour Government or of the Labour Party. There- 630 fore, I assume it is the House that will reach its conclusions.
§ Mr. GrimondWill the Prime Minister allow a free vote this evening?
§ The Prime MinisterI have no doubt that every one of my hon. Friends will be in the Lobby in support of the Government.
§ Mr. BidwellIf my right hon. Friend is in the Hounslow district—he can easily go through it on his way to Chequers—will he bear in mind that Southall is quite close by? Will he stop off and speak to the indigenous and Indian communities of Southall, and assure them that it will be no part of the Labour Government's policies now or in future to deny families their proper family rights, in spite of the worry about immigration and the necessity to control it?
§ The Prime MinisterI have always been in favour of controlling immigration. Indeed. I introduced systems to that effect. There is a difference between controlled entry and the abuses that are taking place, to which attention has been directed. I believe it is in the interests of the communities themselves—it is certainly the desire of many of their leaders—that abuses and evasion of the law should not be practised.
§ Mrs. ThatcherTo return to the previous matter, on the basis of whose rule book will the decision tonight be taken—the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, as interpreted by Mr. Speaker, or the changing instructions of the Prime Minister?
§ The Prime MinisterIt will be taken in the normal course by Members walking through the Lobbies as free Members of this House.
§ Mrs. ThatcherWill the Prime Minister therefore undertake to accept the result of tonight's vote and not have another vote the week after next?
§ The Prime MinisterIt will depend what the vote is about—[Interruption.] I have plenty of time. Hon. Members can shout as long as they like. It will depend what the vote is about the week after next. It will depend on the form in which it is put. As far as today is concerned, the House will reach a conclusion 631 and consequences will follow from that. We shall see the consequences when the vote has been declared.