HC Deb 27 November 1980 vol 994 cc568-70
Q3.Mr. Ancram

asked the Prime Minister, if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 November.

The Prime Minister

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier.

Mr. Ancram

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that during the last month the number of working days lost through industrial disputes was the lowest since 1966 for the month of October? Given that the number of new disputes during the third quarter of this year was the smallest since the war, does it not show that at last there is a growing public awareness that we cannot strike our way to prosperity?

The Prime Minister

Yes. I am happy to confirm that those figures were published. They are extremely encouraging and show signs of greater realism and moderation in pay claims and settlements. It also shows a greater realisation that we must improve productivity if we are to stay competitive.

Mr. Faulds

Will the right hon. Lady today seek permission from her husband, when she next has a free weekend, to spend it with me in Smethwick, where I can assure her she would appreciate my attentions and where she could have a long rest from such convoluted non-answers as we have heard from her this afternoon; and where she could also see some of the many factories that she has silenced in my constituency and where I could introduce her to some of the many thousands of people whom she has made unemployed?

The Prime Minister

The direct answer to the hon. Gentleman's question is: No, no, a thousand times no" etcetera.

Mr. Cyril D. Townsend

Will my right hon. Friend make clear that, whatever British Rail's financial or over-manning problems may be, neither her constituents in Greater London nor mine will be virtually confined to base after 7.30 at night?

The Prime Minister

I understand that recent statements have arisen because British Railways are trying to cut costs by reducing the number of trains which, they say, are lightly loaded. They must consider the loading of each train so that they can keep down costs. Apparently, there will be times when trains will stop at stations and when people will be able to get on them. However, there will not necessarily be ticket collectors or staff at the stations. That will not prevent people from travelling on the trains.

Mr. David Steel

Since Tuesday, has the Prime Minister discovered from the Secretary of State for Industry what he meant by the observation that he made at the weekened to the effect that the Government had lost the first year?

The Prime Minister

I have not had contact with my right hon. Friend on that point. If I were asked to hazard a guess, I think that he would say that had we cut public expenditure more during the first year, interest rates would have been lower. I point out to the right hon. Gentleman that in cutting public expenditure we have not enjoyed much help from him.

Sir Graham Page

Will my right hon. Friend make time today to express publicly her anxiety about the activities in Liverpool of a group called the Broad Militant Left and about the possible violence that may result from a rally to be held in Liverpool on Saturday at which the chief rally rouser is to be the Leader of the Opposition?

The Prime Minister

I am not in any way responsible for the activities of the Leader of the Opposition. I hope that there will be no violence. I doubt whether the march will do any good, particularly in view of the fact that yet again we are having trouble at Halewood.