§ Q4. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Prime Minister when she plans next to meet the Trades Union Congress.
§ The Prime MinisterNo dates have yet been arranged.
§ Mr. EvansAs the steel strike is now in its tenth week, and as there is some hope in the talks that are now taking place will the right hon. Lady have a word with the Secretary of State for Industry and tell him not to continue the harsh limits that he is imposing on the steel industry, so that the dispute can be settled? Secondly, as the trade union movement now has the support of the EEC Commissioners in its claim that Britain is running down its steel industry too rapidly, will she review the situation and stop the massive redundancies that will take place in South Wales?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sure that both the hon. Gentleman and I hope that the talks that are taking place today will reach a settlement and that those who work with the BSC will soon be back at work. As I indicated earlier, we are applying for every EEC aid that is available, but that is nothing like the quantity that the BSC has made available out of the cash limit for redundancies. As the hon. Gentleman knows, I believe that those who will lose their jobs should be treated generously. I also believe that the task of the Government is to try to provide remedial measures of the kind that we are providing in South Wales for those who would otherwise be without a job.