§ Q3. Mr. Ridleyasked the Prime Minister if he intends to visit the countries bordering the Red Sea.
§ The Prime MinisterNo.
§ Mr. RidleyIs the Prime Minister aware that if he visited the Red Sea he would have the opportunity to consider that Moses did not lead his people to the Promised Land but only into the desert? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the desert into which he has led us is that of stagnant production and falling living standards? How does he explain away the disastrous results of his economic and industrial strategy when the Germans, who did not have North Sea oil but did have the same oil crisis, have succeeded in having growth where we have stagnation?
§ The Prime MinisterNo.
§ Mr. MacFarquharIf I may bring the matter rather closer to the Red Sea, has my right hon. Friend had any consultations with the American President since he described Soviet activities in the Horn of Africa a few Question Times ago as "adventurism"?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, I have had no more contact with the President about this matter, although my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is in constant contact on it with his fellow Foreign Ministers.
§ Mr. BakerOn his journey to the Red Sea, if he goes on it, will the Prime Minister consider whether it is wise for the Labour Party to spend £50,000 on a series of straw polls to determine the views of the British people? Does he not think that he would get rather better value for money if instead of spending £50,000 on a straw poll he had the courage to have a real poll?
§ The Prime MinisterThere will be a General Election in due course. The hon. Gentleman, however, need not get too nervous yet. His seat is safe for a little while.
§ Mr. FlanneryIf my right hon. Friend is going to the Red Sea, will he think for a while that the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) is possibly the only Member of the House who can actually strut while sitting?
§ The Prime MinisterI have always had some understanding for the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) since he was dismissed by the previous Administration. However, I felt that it was, in the words of John Dryden, a case of
Better one suffer, than a nation grieve.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanReverting to the Red Sea, will the Prime Minister consider most carefully the increasing Soviet influence on both coasts of the Red Sea and the precariousness or otherwise of the position of the present Administration in Saudi Arabia, and consult his colleagues in Europe and within the North Atlantic Alliance to ascertain what can be done to put the matter right?
§ The Prime MinisterYes. This is a serious problem, which constantly engages the attention of a number of countries. Indeed, President Barre of Somalia and others have attempted to get some help on this, and it has been provided. Although we would be happy to go to the United Nations Security Council, we must be careful about what steps should be taken, in case we make the situation worse rather than better. However, there is a serious problem. I can only say that it is not capable of easy solution, but we are aware of the grave risks involved.