§ Q2. Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) on 14th July.
§ Mr. RobertsAt that last meeting did the Prime Minister discuss with the TUC the need for possible guidelines and certainly strict monitoring of any productivity agreements outside the 12-months rule to ensure that they are genuinely self-financing, and not bogus agreements such as have blighted pay policies in the past? If he did not discuss that matter with the TUC, does he agree that it should be considered?
§ The Prime MinisterMost of these matters have been discussed with the TUC.
§ Mr. SkinnerWhen the Prime Minister meets the TUC on the many occasions on which he undoubtedly will in the near future, will he tell it that the members of the Cabinet are no longer going to 1845 orchestrate the view that Margaret Thatcher is almost—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I think that the hon. Gentleman forgot for a moment how we address each other in the House.
§ Mr. SkinnerI was using the tactics that she used yesterday, Mr. Speaker.
Will my right hon. Friend explain to the TUC that we no longer subscribe to the view that the Leader of the Opposition will be able to order the blue curtains for No. 10 Downing Street? Now that we have got rid of the incomes policy and almost restored free collective bargaining, will he move a step further and freeze prices, get us out of the Common Market, and restore the cuts in public expenditure, because that could be a winning ticket?
§ The Prime MinisterThe answer to the first part of the question is "Yes, Sir", and to the second part "No, Sir."
§ Mr. AdleyAs many aircraft workers are represented on the TUC, will the Prime Minister take time—perhaps this afternoon—to telephone his son-in-law and remind him that, as he is now a paid public servant, it is his job to uphold British interests, including the views of Her Majesty's Government on support for Concorde?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman is a keen supporter of Concorde. However, I do not think that whether or not one personality flies in it should have any particular influence on the fact that that very fine aircraft should be permitted to land in New York.
§ Mr. Tom KingHas the Prime Minister seen the statement by Sir Derek Ezra that falling coal productivity could threaten the supplies of house coal in this country this winter? In any discussions with the TUC will he be returning to the subject of the importance of a pit-by-pit productivity scheme for miners?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that that question should be put to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy. It is clearly a matter for discussion with the National Union of Mineworkers.