HC Deb 20 May 1980 vol 985 cc246-7
Q2. Mr. Radice

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to the Northern region.

The Prime Minister

I shall do so next Friday.

Mr. Radice

Is the right hon. Lady aware that unemployment in the Northern region has risen every month since last November and that most people in the region believe that her Government just could not care less?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Gentleman will remember his own Government's record of more than doubling the level of unemployment.

Mr. Beith

Will the Prime Minister take note of what is happening in the fishing ports of the North of England? Does she realise that the aid given so far to the industry simply will not last long enough for the fishing industry to survive until the next round of consultations is completed? Is she prepared to make substantial further aid available to the industry?

The Prime Minister

About £3 million was the amount required by the industry. Its distribution is being handled by the industry, and is being used partly for exploring further waters to which the fishing fleets can go. I recognise that there are particular difficulties facing fleets that fish in distant waters. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is in touch with the fishermen about that matter.

Mr. Alexander

Will my right hon. Friend take time today to talk to the Head of Government of Saudi Arabia—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman realises that this is not an open question.

Mr. Alexander

I apologise, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will be lucky later, but I cannot guarantee it.

Mr. Adley

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of the athletes who will go to the Olympic Games—

Mr. Speaker

Order. We are dealing with the Northern region.

Mr. Adley

I was referring to those athletes who come from the Northern region and who are a particularly strong part of our Olympic Games contingent.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I appeal to hon. Members not to try to twist a question into—[Interruption.] Order. Some of those who are shouting are among those who do this. An open question is fair game, but where it is a substantive question I hope that the House will play the game and try to have it that way.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

Before the right hon. Lady goes to the Northern region on Friday, will she please get a decision from the Ministry of Defence on the order for 77 Chieftain tanks so that she can visit Vickers Elswick factory and tell the 350 workers who are now due for redundancy that they will not be made redundant because the order is there?

The Prime Minister

I shall have to disappoint the hon. Gentleman. I do not think that the decision will be ready before I go north on Friday.