§ Q3. Mr. Brittanasked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to Whitby.
§ The Prime MinisterI have at present no plans to do so.
§ Mr. BrittanDoes the Prime Minister realise that if he were to visit Whitby many people there would tell him that if the Government wanted to show their determination to face economic realities they would not threaten the livelihoods of small ports such as Whitby by increasing costs and reducing flexibility of operation, but would, as a gesture of national unity and common sense, drop their ill-conceived, monstrously begotten, widely unpopular and grotesque Dock Work Regulation Bill?
§ The Prime MinisterI congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his well thought-out supplementary question. It bears little relation to the state of public opinion in Whitby or anywhere else.
§ Mr. Ron ThomasBefore my right hon. Friend makes any arrangement to go to Whitby, will he be good enough to deal with the serious situation at the other end of the corridor, where a group of non-elected people are doing their best to smash the legislation that has been passed by this Chamber?
§ The Prime MinisterI have noticed that demonstration of national unity. I have no doubt that the other place will continue with its self-appointed task of mutilating Bills that have passed through this House. No doubt in due course the House of Commons will want to reconsider this matter.