§ The Prime MinisterThis 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. I shall also be making a ministerial broadcast. This evening I hope to attend a reception for winners of The Queen's Award for Export and Technology in 1978. It is not the custom for the Prime Minister to give details of his engagements in advance.
§ Mr. AdleyDoes the Prime Minister recall that last Tuesday he sneered at my my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition when she described the current rate of inflation as 13.3 per cent.? That was a statistic provided by the Treasury, and he described it as having been given in response to a question designed to produce a certain answer. As that statistic was based on the same criteria as the Chancellor of the Exchequer used to produce his statistic of 8.4 per cent. inflation at the last general election, can the Prime Minister tell us whether his party fought the last general election on a false prospectus? Is he proud that after five years his Government have raised inflation from 8.4 per cent. to 13.3 per cent.?
§ The Prime MinisterI must say that if the hon. Gentleman has to go back to that he is getting in pretty poor shape for asking questions. As to the basis on which the election was fought, I shall 1688 recount it to the House, namely, that the overcoming of inflation was the first priority, together with ensuring that our balance of payments was put in order. Both those aims have been achieved.
§ Mr. StallardWill my right hon. Friend take time off from his engagements, either today or tomorrow, to intervene in the rapidly deteriorating situation in Northern Ireland resulting from the Bennett report and allied issues, further highlighted today by the action of another distinguished member of the medical profession, Dr. Denis Elliott? Is my right hon. Friend aware that charges and countercharges between the Northern Ireland Office and representatives of the minority community have antagonised many members of the minority community in Northern Ireland and many impartial observers in this country, and that this is bringing into question the Government's whole approach to the problems of the Six Counties in the North-East of Ireland?
§ The Prime MinisterI believe that the Government have shown by their immediate acceptance of the Bennett report that they stand firm by the principle that there should be no possibility that any prisoner taken into custody should suffer injury as a result of that being done. Every case that is brought to our attention where that happens will certainly be dealt with most rigorously, for there can be no worse condemnation of the Government than that we should allow such matters to pass unchallenged and uncorrected. I give my hon. Friend that firm assurance.
§ Mr. Paul DeanWill the Prime Minister acknowledge that the political manoeuvres in which he is engaged today degrade the high office which he temporarily holds and are bad for Britain? Will he now put Britain first and give the people of this country the chance to elect a Government?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not complain if the hon. Gentleman thinks that it is not electioneering or is putting Britain first to believe that his own party would do better, but it comes a little strange when he makes a remark suggesting that, of course, that has nothing to do with politics. It seems to me that I have reached the stage when, were I even to 1689 say that spring is on the way, it would be regarded as electioneering of the worst order ever witnessed in this country.
§ Mrs. Renée ShortWill my right hon. Friend find some time today to study the transcript of the broadcast yesterday by Dr. Rhoodie in order to consider whether he should hold an inquiry into whether any British politicians on the Opposition Benches—[HON. MEMBERS:"Or the Government Benches."]—received any payment for speaking in support of South Africa's apartheid policy?
§ The Prime MinisterI shall certainly ask the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to study this matter, but I would not myself propose to go into it. I am sure that if any factors come to light my right hon. Friend will suggest that we take the necessary action.
§ Q3. Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 22 March.
§ The Prime MinisterThis 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. I shall also be making a ministerial broadcast. This evening I hope to attend a reception for winners of The Queen's Award for Export and Technology in 1978.
§ Mr. WintertonWill the Prime Minister say why the Government have accepted a 20 per cent. increase for lorry drivers in the public sector, and may I ask him to be honest with the House and explain, since he is so bitterly opposed to 20 per cent. pay increases in the private sector, how two inflationary wrongs can make a non-inflationary right?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sure that what the hon. Gentleman suggests in the last part of his question must be correct, but it does not arise out of my official engagements today.
§ Mr. RookerWill my right hon. Friend take time off today to receive the overwhelming thanks of the majority of the British people for the decision which he has announced today to set up a council for animal welfare? Secondly, when he comes to announce the membership of the council, will he pay no heed to balance but make sure that the majority of the 1690 council are there for the purpose of animal welfare and not animal use?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. The Government received many representations on this issue, and I have told my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett) that because of the growing concern about the treatment of animals the Government have decided to set up a council for animal welfare to maintain an oversight in this matter and to advise the Government. The council will have the power to review existing legislation and recommend legislative or other action on any animal welfare matter and to propose improvements in the existing advisory machinery.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsIs it true, as is alleged in the Western Mail today—[HON. MEMBERS:"NO."]—that in their bid for survival the Government have offered Plaid Cymru a compensation scheme for slate quarrymen suffering from dust diseases? If that is true, is it not the most despicable bit of bartering possible?
§ The Prime MinisterOn the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question, while I have every respect for the Western Mail, it is not my responsibility to comment on reports in that newspaper. As regards the whole question of the compensation for slate quarrymen, I wish that the hon. Gentleman had not put his point in that way. He will remember that the Royal Commission which examined this matter was very sympathetic about it but could not find a solution, and when I reported some months ago on the outcome of the Royal Commission I announced that the Government would try to find some way of compensating these slate quarrymen. I believe that when he reflects on his question, the hon. Gentleman will regret the insinuation which he made.
§ Q4. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 22 March.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have just given to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton).
§ Mr. PriceIf my right hon. Friend finds himself today contemplating what to do in Parliament over the next seven 1691 months during which the Government will remain in office, will he turn his mind to the Official Information Bill which is shortly to come to the House on Report and remind himself that in the Labour manifesto there was a pledge to reform the Official Secrets Act and to provide a public right of access? Will my right hon. Friend remind himself also that the Bill was not opposed by the Government on Second Reading, and will he give the House some sort of indication that all the reports that he is against it are completely wrong?
§ The Prime MinisterIn all these matters, of course, there is collective responsibility and I accept my share of it. As regards the future of the freedom of information Bill, I hope that there will be some discussions with the sponsors of the Bill and others who are interested before it comes back to the House. It contains a number of very valuable points, but it also contains others which would not be acceptable, and perhaps we can make some progress on it in the light of the discussions which may take place.
§ Mr. Gwynfor EvansWill the Prime Minister in his broadcast tonight explain to the people why he made no ministerial broadcast during the campaigns for Assemblies in Wales and Scotland? Will he explain why the Government made no effort to explain the measure to the people who are utterly bewildered by it? Will he also explain why the Labour Party in the constituencies in Wales took virtually no part in the campaign for a Welsh Assembly?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the hon. Gentleman knows the difficulties about broadcasting during the campaign. As for my own part in the campaign, I say—I hope with due modesty—that I addressed the largest assembly in Wales that heard anybody speak on the subject during the course of the campaign. Unfortunately, it did not have the required effect. I hate to think what might have happened if I had spoken to an even larger audience.