§ Q2. Mr. Canavanasked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 12 May.
§ The Prime MinisterThis morning I held a press conference with Chancellor Schmidt following our meetings yesterday. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having meetings later today with ministerial colleagues and others including one with the United Nations' Secretary-General. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.
§ Mr. CanavanIn view of the Prime Minister's weekend speech to the Scottish conference of the Tory Party, may we know whether she was taken up to Perth 614 blindfolded so that she would not see the industrial deserts that she has created? With Scottish unemployment fast approaching 300,000, how can she expect us to believe all that claptrap about a dramatic industrial recovery, especially coming from the lips of the woman who has wrought more damage to Scottish industry in two years than the Kaiser and Hitler managed to achieve in two world wars?
§ The Prime MinisterI would expect even the hon. Gentleman to rejoice in the many orders that Scottish industry has recently won. I think that he prefers it not to get orders because he wants to wallow in misery.
§ Mr. ViggersHas my right hon. Friend noted from a parliamentary answer that there are now more than 16,000 pre-1950 widows of non-commissioned ranks receiving pensions granted by her Government? Does she take pride in that, bearing in mind that the Labour Government said that it was administratively impossible?
§ The Prime MinisterWe most certainly take pride in that, as do the many widows involved and the Armed Services.
§ Mr. David SteelWhen the Prime Minister has her meeting this afternoon with her ministerial colleagues, will she consider which of them are overdue for elevation to the other House? Is she aware that last week 395 Liberals were elected to local authorities? Is it not time that we had some parliamentary by-elections?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have already had a list of people elevated to the other House. It is not my intention to make another list of working life peers.
§ Mr. CadburyDespite her busy day, will my right hon. Friend reflect on the fact that production of all Mini-Metros at the Longbridge plant and of all Ford Escorts at Halewood has been stopped by unofficial strikes? Does she not agree that unions and management must end the tradition of unofficial strikes, otherwise the British motor industry will destroy itself, with catastrophic effects on the entire economy?
§ The Prime MinisterI am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that point. We have two cars that are acknowledged winners—the Escort and the Metro. It is crazy that those who produce them should be on strike. They are putting in jeopardy their own jobs and the jobs of many others who supply them. If unemployment is increased because of that and because of this country's bad reputation abroad for strikes, they will have only themselves to blame.
§ Mr. MolyneauxIn relation to the evidence, to which I have drawn the Prime Minister's attention, that mortar attacks on our security forces are being organised from the Irish Republic, may I ask whether the right hon. Lady is aware that the people of Northern Ireland rely on her to take a tough line with the Irish Government?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman drew my attention to the mortar attacks on border posts, which, we believe, from forensic evidence, involve mortars of a sort produced by the IRA, although I cannot confirm the other matters referred to in the hon. Gentleman's letter. I shall continue wholeheartedly the full guarantee to the people of Northern Ireland which is enshrined in legislation. However, we must strive to work for peace and reconciliation with the Republic.