Glasgow (Hansard, 30 November 1982)

§ Q1. Mr. Maxton
asked the Prime Minister when she next intends to visit Glasgow.

§ The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)
On present plans, early next year.

§ Mr. Maxton
Even if the right hon. Lady cannot visit Glasgow before early next year, can she tell the House why, of her Cabinet colleagues, only the Secretary of State for Scotland has bothered to go to Glasgow to support the Tory candidate in the Glasgow, Queen's Park by-election? Is she aware that it is because that young man faces such a humiliating defeat that she is ensuring that she has nothing to do with it?

§ The Prime Minister
As that candidate has had the support of our No. 1 politician in Scotland, the excellent Secretary of State for Scotland, I am sure that he is very pleased. I am sure that there is no better candidate than the young man who is standing for the Conservative Party.

Hon. Members
What is his name?

§ Sir Hector Monro
If my right hon. Friend is able to visit Glasgow—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. If hon. Members wish to waste Prime Minister's Question Time by making a noise they may do so, but we shall not continue until hon. Members asking questions can be heard. I could not hear the hon. Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro).

§ Sir Hector Monro
Is my right hon. Friend aware that if she is able to visit Glasgow in the near future she will find many people there who realise that her policies have brought down inflation, interest rates and mortgage interest rates? Is she further aware that many people in Glasgow have been able to buy their council houses, against the wishes of the Labour-controlled council?

§ The Prime Minister
I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. Our candidate, Jackson Carlaw, whom I met on Friday night, has found that people there appreciate the opportunity that Conservatives have given them to purchase their council houses, while the Labour Party wants to keep those tenants under control for ever.

§ Mr. David Steel
Is the Prime Minister aware that construction firms in central Scotland are extremely annoyed that her "Buy British" policy is not being pursued by all Government Departments? Is she further aware that one of them turned down the opportunity to construct a package of houses on the Falkland Islands in favour of a firm—

§ Mr. Skinner
The right hon. Gentleman had a Japanese car.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) must keep his information to himself.

§ Mr. Steel
If the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) had made that remark while standing up I should have asked him to withdraw it, as it is untrue.

§ Mr. Skinner
It is true. The right hon. Gentleman had a Japanese car.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I must tell the hon. Member for Bolsover that if he does that once more this afternoon I shall order him out of the Chamber.

§ Mr. Skinner
But it is true.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. It is impossible to continue with our business if hon. Members are not allowed to ask their questions.

§ Mr. Steel
As a Scottish construction firm was among those contending for a housing contract in the Falklands and the contract has now been given to a firm using Swedish components, will the Prime Minister ensure that her "Buy British" policy gets through to all Government Departments?

§ The Prime Minister
That contract was put out to tender. We had to purchase the most suitable houses for the people there and to house our troops. The last three in the tender were British firms. It is true that some used Swedish components, but that was because those components were the best available. The policy is to buy British where it is the best available or equal to the best available, but we must insist on purchasing the best available for the purpose.