HC Deb 16 June 1981 vol 6 cc855-6
Q1. Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 16 June.

The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall be attending the CBI's annual dinner.

Mr. Carlisle

Will my right hon. Friend consider the fact that 43 per cent. of our exports now go to the Common Market, that that share is increasing annually, and that, therefore, the Common Market is a major source of jobs for our nation? Will she use the forthcoming Presidency of the Council of Ministers to get across to the British public the contribution that our membership of the Common Market makes to the creation of jobs here?

The Prime Minister

I confirm what my hon. Friend says. I am grateful to him for drawing attention to the important part which membership of the Community plays in providing jobs for people in the British economy.

Mr. Foot

In the light of some of the reports that have appeared about what may appear on the agenda of the Cabinet's crisis meeting tomorrow—[Interruption]. The crisis in British industry and the crisis of mass unemployment are on a scale that we have not seen for many years. Will the right hon. Lady give us a clear assurance that there will be no rejection at that Cabinet meeting of the proposals, made by Sir Peter Parker and the unions in the British railway industry, for major investment in the industry? Those proposals should be backed by the Government and the country. Will she assure us that there will be no rejection of those schemes until the House of Commons has had a chance to discuss them?

The Prime Minister

There is a Cabinet meeting tomorrow, but it is not a crisis Cabinet meeting. The discussion will be relevant and interesting. My right hon. Friends will express their minds freely.

Mr. Foot

We all understand about the right hon. Lady's right hon. Friends expressing their minds freely—I would not use the term myself, but she has used the term, "the wets". Will she give us a clear assurance that there will be no Government decision on the investment scheme for British Rail until all hon. Members in the House of Commons, "wets" and "drys", have had a chance to put their case?

The Prime Minister

I can give the right hon. Gentleman no such assurance. The external financing limit for British Railways this year is higher in real terms than it was last year. We are providing £920 million to finance British Rail this year—which is more than 1p on income tax for everyone in the country.

Mr. Eggar

Will my right hon. Friend have time today to consider early-day motion 455, which is signed by 111 of her right hon. and hon. Friends and looks forward to a further decrease in the nationalised industries sector? Can she confirm that this remains a major priority for her Government?

The Prime Minister

I have seen that early-day motion, and I congratulate my hon. friend on it. I assure him that my objectives are identical with his.

Mr. David Steel

Will the Prime Minister confirm that, although her right hon. Friends are free to speak their minds at the Cabinet tomorrow, the fact that all the press reports say that the monetarists will win does not mean that they are not also free to take decisions tomorrow?

The Prime Minister

Decisions are taken by the Cabinet as a whole, and not by individual members.