§ Q4. Mr Needhamasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 May.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. NeedhamIs my right hon. Friend aware that the catering services of British Rail are currently running losses of £8 million a year? Does not she accept that those services are always expensive and invariably appalling, in stations and trains? Does not she agree that it is high time that those services were turned over to private industry, to improve the standards and to make sure that they make money?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is true that the catering services on stations and on trains are losing substantial sums of money. I think that it is about £6½ million. I believe that British Rail is looking at privatising same services. It would be much better value for money if that were done.
§ Mr. Barry JonesDoes the Prime Minister know that the male unemployment rate in the town of Flint now approaches a disturbing 38 per cent.? Why are the Government vacillating on whether to give the go-ahead to the coal liquefaction plant in North-East Wales? Would not the go-ahead help technology in Britain and help to tackle rising unemployment in North Wales?
§ The Prime MinisterWe must consider those plans along with other demands for capital spending. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have tried to help in many ways, with finance to his area to try to create new jobs. We have done so through advance factories and the area is also a special development area.
§ Sir Anthony KershawHas my right hon. Friend noticed that after the withdrawal of the grant to Covent Garden by the GLC it is now threatening to withdraw grants to the Royal Opera and the Festival Ballet? Does not that show the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of the new government of London? Is not the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) right in what he says about the GLC?
§ The Prime MinisterSubstantial grants have been given to Covent Garden and to the ballet by the Arts Council and hitherto by the Greater London Council. Many of us believe that it is important that this country should continue to have one of the best opera houses in the world and some of the best ballet facilities in the world. They add to and enhance the reputation of this country as a great centre for the arts and opera.
§ Mr. SpeakerBusiness Questions, Mr. Foot—
§ Mr. Fauldsrose——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I believe that I heard the hon. Member stammer. With the permission of the Leader of the Opposition, as it is the last day for questions-—but not as a precedent, however much the hon. Gentleman stammers in future—I shall call the hon. Member.
§ Mr. FauldsStammering is not my usual mode of speech. I shall deal with those other matters in my own time when I feel so inclined. Will the right hon. Lady reconsider her earlier misguided obstinacy? When the people's march reaches London, made up—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Like everyone else, I was misled, but I called the hon. Member. He must have his question and then we can move on.
§ Mr. FauldsWhen the people's march, made up of people of most political persuasions and of every faith, reaches London on Sunday 31 May, would it not be more advisable for the right hon. Lady to forgo her Sunday roast and go out to meet them, because she is directly responsible for their plight and for the many millions of unemployed whom they represent?
§ The Prime MinisterIf you were misled, Mr. Speaker, your faith is greater than mine. The answer to the hon. Gentleman is "No, Sir".