§ Q5. Mrs. Haymanasked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Hatfield.
§ The Prime MinisterI have at present no plans to do so.
§ Mrs. HaymanWill the Prime Minister reconsider that answer so that he can hear for himself from the workers on the project all the arguments in favour of a full-scale funding of the HS146? With the real possibility of Rolls-Royce engines, this could be the perfect project for new launching for British Aerospace. When do the Government expect to receive the recommendation from the board of British Aerospace and to make a decision?
§ The Prime MinisterI know that there are great anxieties at Hatfield about the project, and one of the important factors in deciding whether to re-launch the HS146 is the employment aspect. Ministers are reviewing these matters and the decision will be made and announced as soon as possible.
§ Mr. FormanWhen the Prime Minister finally travels to Hatfield, will he use the time in his ministerial car to re-read the speech he made at Aberystwyth on 7th July and consider whether he was wise to promise this country the prospect of booming 1980s when his Government have not even begun to grapple with the real problems of today—inflation running at a rate of nearly 18 per cent. and unemployment of 1½ million?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. That is really an example—[Interruption.] some of those hon. Members who are cheering do it too—of an hon. Member jumping from the Question on the Order Paper. That is not in the interests of the House at the end of the day.