HC Deb 23 February 1981 vol 999 cc651-2
34. Mr. Adley

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on methods of presentation of Government policy.

Mr. Pym

The Government seek to ensure that information on all aspects of their policy is widely available. Ministers explain the policies they are pursuing in speeches and by interviews, through press notices and briefing and speeches and statements in the House.

The Government also make use of all forms of paid publicity, including press and television advertising, posters and leaflets.

Mr. Adley

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the description of "Right-wing extremist" applied to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Government, when the Government are quite properly providing huge sums of money for the nationalised industries, is ridiculous? Will my right hon. Friend therefore accept that many of us very much welcome his recent speech at Putney, which reaffirmed the pragmatic role of the Conservative Party, and will he please keep at it?

Mr. Pym

All that I can say is that, whatever else I am responsible for, I am not responsible for comments on my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, on any other Minister, or indeed anybody else for that matter.

Mr. John Silkin

Will the Leader of the House amplify that reply just a little? We have heard that the Secretary of State for Trade does not intend to be a Kamikaze pilot. I had some personal experience of Kamikaze pilots during the war.

Mr. Warren

A failed Kamikaze pilot.

Mr. John Silkin

On the contrary—the hon. Gentleman is thinking of chicken Kamikaze, of course. The interesting thing about Kamikaze pilots was that they headed direct for the crash. They were not for turning. In the light of that, would the right hon. Gentleman present the Prime Minister as a Kamikaze pilot or perhaps as a more orthodox form of pilot now?

Mr. Pym

I think that I shall leave the Prime Minister to present herself. The right hon. Gentleman may not have been a Kamikaze pilot, but at least we share the fact that in previous incarnations we were both Chief Whips.

Mr. Stokes

Can my right hon. Friend assure me and, I think, most other Conservative Members, that, in spite of the slight contretemps last week, the Government will resist strikes in the public sector?

Mr. Pym

That is not a matter for me.

35. Mr. Robert Atkins

asked the Paymaster General if he remains satisfied with the effectiveness of the coordination of the Government publicity.

Mr. Pym

There is always room for improvement.

Mr. Atkins

Is my right hon. Friend aware that as long as he continues to make speeches on industrial and economic strategy of the kind that he made recently in Putney, Ministers will not have to waste any time attacking the likes of the Limehouse Lefties, as the Government will then be occupying the mainstream of politics?

Mr. Pym

I shall simply say that I am grateful for what my hon. Friend has said.

Mr. Sheerman

Will the right hon. Gentleman help Members of the House who are in difficulties after hearing the weekend broadcast of the Secretary of State for Trade, in which he said that we should take no notice of what Ministers actually say?

Mr. Pym

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said. He is capable of defending and standing up for himself.