HC Deb 02 March 1978 vol 945 cc659-60
Q2. Mr. Pattie

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Chelsea.

The Prime Minister

I have at present no plans to do so.

Mr. Pattie

When the Prime Minister does go to Chelsea, will he go to the Chelsea Barracks and talk to the soldiers who are waiting to see the report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body? Will he allow the Review Body to make a genuine recommendation about comparability and leave the decisions to the Government, or will he let the Review Body hide behind the skirts of the Government's so-called pay policy?

The Prime Minister

I suppose that the question of Army pay could arise on a visit to Chelsea. My understanding is that the Review Body is free to report in any way that it thinks fit. Then the Government will have to take the appropriate decision.

Mr. Ashton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Leader of the Opposition lives in Chelsea? If she were to invite my right hon. Friend to tea together with the Leader of the Liberal Party to discuss immigration policy, would the Prime Minister then pay an official visit?

The Prime Minister

I should prefer an unofficial invitation for this purpose. I should inquire who would be present at tea. I hope that I should not be there among the Gang of Four.

Mr. Neubert

If the Prime Minister goes to Chelsea, will he go by water? Is he not concerned at a second Select Committee report about the uneasy relationship between a Minister and a nationalised industry? Does this mean that the Government are losing their enthusiasm for public ownership?

The Prime Minister

I remind the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert) that Moses parted the waters of the Red Sea. He did not walk on them. The Select Committee to which the hon. Member refers has a wonderful reputation. However, people who sit on the side of the pitch always believe that they can play the game better than those in the middle of it.

Mr. Skinner

In view of the Tory Party's policy, in more general terms, of being in favour of non-intervention in industry, can the Prime Minister say how many letters of complaint he has received either from people in Chelsea or from the directors of the firms which financially support the Tory Party, who now say that they do not want taxpayers' money to intervene in industry? Does he accept that intervention to private enterprise is running at £11 million a day?

The Prime Minister

A growing number of firms are receiving State aid. I do not recall a single letter from any of them asking me to withdraw State aid in order to reduce public expenditure on the lines that the Opposition are always asking us to do.