PRIME MINISTER (ENGAGEMENTS) (Hansard, 22 February 1977)

§ Q1. Mr. Canavan
asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for 22nd February.

§ The Prime Minister (Mr. James Callaghan)
In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be holding meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including one with the National Union of Mineworkers.

§ Mr. Canavan
Can my right hon. Friend find time today to consult the new Foreign Secretary about invitations to the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference later this year? In view of the widespread revulsion felt about the atrocities attributed to President Amin of Uganda, and particularly recent reports of the brutal murders of two Cabinet Ministers and the Archbishop of Uganda, does my right hon. Friend agree that it would be absolutely repugnant to the vast majority of Commonwealth citizens to invite to this country such a ruthless barbarian, who has no respect for human rights or for human life itself?

§ The Prime Minister
I share my hon. Friend's revulsion at the reports that have come from Uganda. If they are true, there can be no words strong enough to condemn what has happened. There are problems in regard to the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, because although this country is the host, we do 1218 not issue invitations, and attendance is a matter for all members of the Commonwealth. I should be willing to take soundings on this matter, but, in view of the delicacy of the situation, I should not wish to go further than that this afternoon. In the meantime, I can inform the House that the Foreign Secretary has instructed our delegation at the United Nations Human Rights Commission to call for an investigation and to ask Uganda to agree to an investigation into what has transpired in that country.

§ Mrs. Thatcher
May I say how very much we agree with what the Prime Minister has just said? We wish the new Foreign Secretary well in his important responsibilities. As the Prime Minister has appointed to the post of Foreign Secretary one of the most committed Europeans in his Administration, does this mean that he will take the earliest opportunity to introduce into the House the Bill for direct elections to the European Parliament?

§ The Prime Minister
I note the right hon. Lady's tripartite question. I am grateful for what she said in the first part. On the question of direct elections, I have nothing to add to what has been said before. The Government are pressing on.

§ Mr. George Cunningham
Repugnant though it might be to have General Amin in this country, should we not consider whether the best thing that we could do for the people of Uganda, who should be our prime consideration, would be to assist in getting him out of Uganda and into this country for as long as possible, in the hope that something will happen while he is away?

§ The Prime Minister
Whatever our views about General Amin—and I certainly have mine—it is not for me to say at this Dispatch Box that we welcome armed coups of any kind, in whatever circumstances. There is far too much lawlessness in the world today, and it is not repaired by the encouragement of further lawlessness. I recall vividly that General Amin did not come to the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference in Jamaica, and I do not think that we would regard it as a slight if he stayed away from London.

§ Mr. Michael Latham
Will any of the Prime Minister's meetings today be concerned with the fact that inflation is now running at 16.6 per cent. and rising, as opposed to the promised 8.4 per cent. and falling?

§ The Prime Minister
I shall not be discussing that matter today. I am glad to tell the hon. Gentleman and the House that a number of factors are beginning to turn in the direction of this country. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will join with me in welcoming them. Apart from the issue of inflation, I am sure that he is pleased to see that exports are rising, that sterling is more stable, that the rise in the money supply is decreasing rapidly, that interest rates are falling, and that industrial output has risen for the first time for over a year. I am glad to reassure the hon. Gentleman, he having pointed out that one factor is still not yet working properly, that there are at least six others that are.