§ Q3. Mr. Flanneryasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 16 June.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. FlanneryWill the Prime Minister turn her mind once again to the question of unemployment? Will she accept that, if there is no crisis in the Cabinet, there should be? If she says that there is no crisis she should look outside the Cabinet because there is a deep crisis about unemployment throughout Britain. Did she think that 250,000 people would be on the streets in the march for jobs if there were not a deep crisis? I come from a steel 857 city. Will she accept from me that, as we marched through Sheffield, factory after factory had signs saying "To Let"? Is she aware that workers in Sheffield expect to be sacked almost any day, and that almost every day there are sackings and closures? Is not that a crisis?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no crisis in the Cabinet, although there may be a crisis in the Labour Party. On the serious matter that the hon. Gentleman raised, I agree that there are great difficulties and problems with unemployment. However, they will not be solved by marches. They might be solved if everyone in Britain bought more British goods if the goods are up to standard, and if we sell more British goods overseas. That is the only way to increase jobs. We shall not do so by ranting about it.
§ Mr. Robert AtkinsFollowing the success of British industry at the Paris air show, will my right hon. Friend find time to write to the president of the Society of British Aerospace Companies to congratulate him on the part that member companies play in the success story of British aerospace, especially British Aerospace and Short Brothers?
§ The Prime MinisterI am always delighted to congratulate those who are obtaining major export orders, because that is where the jobs are created. I have done a little selling myself to help British Aerospace.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunHas the Prime Minister read this morning's report that, in certain circumstances, the 42 American Polaris submarines can launch their nuclear missiles without permission from headquarters? [HON. MEMBERS: "Which paper?"]. The Daily Telegraph. Does that policy apply to the four British Polaris submarines?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not know what appeared in the press. The British Polaris submarines are firmly under our control.
§ Mr. EmeryHas my right hon. Friend seen the Home Secretary's speech on Sunday about possible political control of the police for London and Manchester? Will she make clear her absolute condemnation of such measures?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, I shall do so gladly. Political control of the police would be disastrous for the rule of law. They must remain independent. I am happy to remind the House that, by statute, control of the Metropolitan Police lies with the Home Secretary, and that is a good thing.
§ Mr. MeacherOn the question of the special Cabinet meeting, will the Prime Minister reconsider whether it makes sense to demand further major public expenditure cuts that will simply increase unemployment, which will then increase spending on unemployment, which will lead to further demands for public expenditure cuts? With the upturn in inflation that is now taking place, is it not obvious to everyone—even to the right hon. Lady—that her economic policies are getting the worst of both worlds, with both higher inflation and higher unemployment?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman is mistaken. Over the years, and certainly since the 1960s, the proportion of national income taken by public expenditure has risen steadily, and so has unemployment.