HC Deb 30 June 1981 vol 7 cc693-7
Ql. Mr. Chapman

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. William Whitelaw)

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend is taking part in the meeting of the European Council in Luxembourg.

Mr. Chapman

When my right hon. Friend is next in telephonic communication with the Prime Minister, will he ask her to consult the Home Secretary and other Ministers to ensure the closest co-ordination of policies as they affect London, bearing in mind the unique features and special problems of the Metropolis? As one such problem is the recently elected Labour GLC and the impending massive supplementary rate to be levied on the hard-pressed ratepayer, if he cannot abolish the GLC, will he and the Government redouble their efforts to get rid of the increasingly iniquitous impost that we call the rating system?

Mr. Whitelaw

On my hon. Friend's first point, in my capacity as Home Secretary I am well aware of the responsibilities that I have in London, and those that other Ministers have. I believe that the policies are well coordinated. Secondly, there is perhaps still a chance that the newly elected Labour GLC will realise the damage that it will cause to London and to employment prospects in London if it continues with the spendthrift plans that it appears to have. Thirdly, my hon. Friend will know that we are publishing a Green Paper on the rating system in the autumn.

Mr. Home Robertson

Will the Home Secretary tell the Prime Minister that the Secretary of State for Scotland has engineered an unprecedented confrontation between himself and the local authorities in Scotland? Is he aware that the Lothian region, including the city of Edinburgh, has been at a complete standstill today? Can we have a new Secretary of State for Scotland before this summer of discontent goes any further?

Mr. Whitelaw

I would prefer a new council for the Lothian region, which would be far better.

Sir Bernard Braine

Can my right hon. Friend say, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Government, whether he has taken a decision to return the remains of General Sikorski to Poland? If not, will he bear in mind that the wartime Polish Government decided that the remains should stay here until Poland was truly free and independent? Would it not be wrong to take such a step without consultation with those surviving comrades-in-arms of General Sikorski who live in large numbers in this country?

Mr. Whitelaw

The decision about exhumation of remains is a matter personally for me as Home Secretary. I have taken a decision. I am announcing it today. I am not prepared to allow the remains of General Sikorski to go back to Poland at this time.

Mr. Foot

As this is the first opportunity that we have had to raise the matter since a reply was given in a written answer at the end of last week, may I ask the Home Secretary about the proposed cuts in the BBC external services? Will the right hon. Gentleman take note that there has been a protest against that from both sides of the House and many parts of the country? Does he not: agree that the question should be taken back to the Cabinet—as it is alleged that the right hon. Gentleman may be one of those who might have a civilising influence—that the Cabinet should reconsider the question, restore the BBC services and allow the BBC to get on with its job?

Mr. Whitelaw

We have said that under the scheme, including capital investment, we intend to offer to spend more money in real terms. It is better to have 33 audible services than 40 services, some of which are inaudible.

Mr. Foot

That is an excuse. Of course the services should be made audible, but they should be sustained in all the countries. Will the right hon. Gentleman promise that the Cabinet will reconsider the matter?

Mr. Whitelaw

I have made it clear that we are spending more money in real terms. I think that that is a sensible proposal.

Q2. Mr. Heddle

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

Mr. Whitelaw

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I have just given.

Mr. Heddle

Now that my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department, has announced an independent inquiry into Civil Service pay, does my right hon. Friend agree that there is now no excuse for the disruption not ceasing forthwith? Is my right hon. Friend aware that the disruption is causing widespread resentment, and discomfort to business men, pensioners and holidaymakers throughout the country? Will he urge people who are not in post to return to work forthwith?

Mr. Whitelaw

It is clear that one of the main considerations of civil servants has been the future determination of their pay. The inquiry that has been announced meets that point. Many civil servants have stayed loyally at their posts throughout the troubles. I hope that those who are on strike will decide to join them and give up the industrial action.

Mr. Race

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the newspaper reports to the effect that the National Health Service faces a £5 million impost because of the public holiday for the Royal Wedding? Does he agree that if the National Health Service has to pay additional overtime rates, plus payments for workers on a 24-hour service that day, the money should come from the Contingency Reserve rather than from the cash already allocated to the NHS?

Mr. Whitelaw

I have not noticed that report. I believe that there is a widespread feeling in the country that a public holiday on the day of the Royal wedding is right and welcome.

Sir Frederick Burden

In view of the great importance and serious implications of the statement by the Secretary of State for Defence last week, will my right hon. Friend do his utmost to ensure that both 7 and 8 July are set aside for a debate on defence? Does my right hon. Friend agree that one day is inadequate for the House to express its views in full?

Mr. Whitelaw

I understand my hon. Friend's special feelings about this subject. After all the years that he has represented Gillingham, it is a matter of great concern to him However, time for a debate is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House.

Miss Boothroyd

Will the Home Secretary inform the Prime Minister that her insistence at the European summit that strict monetary controls are the only method of controlling unemployment is unacceptable to the majority of our member partners in the EEC, who seem to believe that, although inflation must be tackled, it cannot be tackled in isolation from other economic policies?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that, with Britain taking the Presidency of the EEC, initiatives will be taken to press the Commission to identify growth areas, to invest in those growth areas and to move towards gradual reflation, which is the only way to bring down unemployment throughout the Community?

Mr. Whitelaw

The hon. Lady and I share one disadvantage—neither of us was present at the discussions. It would be better to address that question to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. There will be such an opportunity when she returns.

Q3. Mr. Newens

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

Mr. Whitelaw

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave earlier.

Mr. Newens

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise the need for full-time employees in industry to be given adequate time off to pursue public duties, whether they are active shop stewards or bus drivers fighting hopeless causes in parliamentary by-elections? Will he examine the case of Mr. Mike Cooley, one of the authors of the corporate plan, who is employed by the Lucas aerospace organisation and who is faced with dismissal from his proper work as an engineer because of the public work that he has been doing. Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that that is undesirable? Will he take the opportunity of saying how important it is that people who are employed fulltime in industry should be allowed time off to do other things?

Mr. Whitelaw

I shall look into the case that the hon. Gentleman mentions and ensure that it is properly examined. On the wider point, of course I agree with what he says. I am looking forward to going to Warrington, where I shall make an excellent speech and greatly enhance the chances of the Conservative candidate.

Mr. Churchill

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his decision to refuse the request of Poland's Communist Government for the return of General Sikorski's ashes, when two Soviet divisions remain in occupation in that country and another dozen or more stand poised to invade round its borders, is most warmly welcomed by the tens of thousands of Poles in Britain and by the Polish ex-combatant's association? May I thank him warmly for that decision?

Mr. Whitelaw

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. The decision was an extremely difficult one. Obviously, I believe that I took the right decision, but I do not wish to comment on the circumstances involved.

Q4. Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for Tuesday 30 June.

Mr. Whitelaw

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave earlier.

Mr. Wainwright

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that in developed nations, such as Germany, France, United States, Japan and others, the production rate is far superior to ours because their Governments, banks, managements and employees co-ordinate more than ours? Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the Prime Minister when she returns that it is time that she started initiating co-operation between those factions instead of at all times fighting the trade union movement?

Mr. Whitelaw

As I understand the hon. Gentleman, he is urging that we in Britain should be more productive and more competitive. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has been urging that for a long time.

Mr. John Wells

Will my right hon. Friend undertake that, if the Chatham dockyard really is to be closed, special facilities will be made available for smaller, private firms to undertake fresh work, using the skills of the engineering industry, which employs many of my constituents and many in the two neighbouring constituencies, which are perturbed about the rundown? May we have an assurance that something positive will be done?

Mr. Foulkes

Stop whingeing.

Mr. Whitelaw

I understand my hon. Friend's concern. He is one of the leading Conservative Members in Kent. I shall certainly draw to the attention of my right hon. and hon. Friends his comments, which I regard as important.

Mr. Allen McKay

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that in any free collective bargaining system a disagreement goes to arbitration? As he is an advocate of the former, will he not accept the latter in the Civil Service dispute?

Mr. Whitelaw

The Government's position on the Civil Service dispute was clearly set out by the Minister of State, Civil Service Department, yesterday. I have nothing further to add.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, if those in work press for wage increases in double figures in the forthcoming wage round, without compensating increases in productivity, the number of unemployed can only increase?

Mr. Whitelaw;

That must be right and I hope that many people will pay attention to it.

Mr. Foulkes

Will the Home Secretary tell us in confidence, while the Prime Minister is away, what policy his Government would undertake to reduce the appalling level of unemployment if his wing of the Cabinet had its way?

Mr. Whitelaw

They would be exactly the same measures as the whole Cabinet is taking at present. I am surprised that either the hon. Gentleman, or anyone else on the Opposition Benches, should raise that matter today. They had their opportunity last Wednesday. The Leader of the Opposition had his opportunity. He muffed it. I have learnt in politics and life that it is unwise to reinforce weakness. That is what the hon. Gentleman is doing.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Will my right hon. Friend ask the Prime Minister today to consider the deplorable misrepresentation of our policies regarding Ulster in America, culminating in the deplorable cancellation of the visit of a member of the Royal family? Will he ensure that everything possible is done by the Government to see that the truth is known to our great ally?

Mr. Whitelaw

That is very important, and the Government will do their best to ensure that that is done.