HC Deb 04 May 1978 vol 949 cc446-7
Q4. Mr. Loyden

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 4th May.

The Prime Minister

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet. In addition to my duties in this House. I shall be holding further meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others, including one with the Mayor of Delhi. I also hope to attend a reception being given by the Prime Minister of Guyana.

Mr. Loyden

Will my right hon. Friend take some time today to look at Early-Day Motion No. 392, standing in my names and the names of my hon. Friends regarding the pay of industrial civil servants? Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the Government should be a model good employer? Is he aware of the outrageous conditions which in some cases prevail in Government employ?

The Prime Minister

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is "Yes". I think that the Government should be in the first flight of employers. I hope that my hon. Friend will address the second part to the appropriate Civil Service Departments which, I am sure, will look into it—and the Civil Service unions will no doubt seek to negotiate improvements.

Mr. MeCrindle

Can the Prime Minister find time today to telephone Mr. Peter Parker and congratulate him on the better results from British Rail over the last year, and express the hope that some of that money might be devoted to maintaning the level of commuter fares rather than that the colossal burden of recent years should continue—and perhaps that some might even be devoted to improving the reliability and quality of commuter trains?

The Prime Minister

I do not think that I will telephone Mr. Parker on that matter, but I will certainly pass on to the Secretary of State for Transport what the hon. Gentleman has said.

Mrs. Dunwoody

Will my right hon. Friend find some time today to send a rather sharp note to the Shadow spokesman on defence who has accused him of telling lies? Is my right hon. Friend aware that he is exceedingly honoured, as usually that right hon. Gentleman accuses only the dead?

The Prime Minister

I have a feeling that we might as well leave this correspondence where it was. I was quite happy with the result of it.

Mr. Watt

Will the Prime Minister find time during the day to have a quick look at the report of the Trade and Industry Sub-Committee on the fishing industry, in which it recommends that the Minister of Agriculture should stand firm on the demand for a 50-mile limit for fishermen? Will the Prime Minister assure his colleague that the entire Cabinet takes that view?

The Prime Minister

I shall certainly draw the attention of the Minister of Agriculture to what the hon. Gentleman has said, but he can be quite certain that my right hon. Friend will continue to fight the battle as he has done on behalf of our fishermen.

Mr. Dalyell

When the Prime Minister meets the Prime Minister of Guyana, will he make it clear that the British Government are against any ceding by Belize of territory to Guatemala?

The Prime Minister

I have discussed this matter with the Prime Minister of Guyana and I think that we both understand the position very well.