Engagements (Hansard, 7 July 1983)

§ Q1. Mr. Winnick
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 July.

§ The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)
This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

§ Mr. Winnick
Although I realise that a debate on the matter will be held soon, will the Prime Minister agree now that restoring capital punishment for terrorism would not deter terrorists in Northern Ireland but would probably be welcomed by them? Would it not be important next week for the Government and the House to learn the true facts of the hunger strike and, bearing that in mind, is it not obvious that capital punishment is no answer to Irish terrorism?

§ The Prime Minister
As we are likely to debate the matter thoroughly, probably next week, that will be the appropriate time to put all the arguments from both sides of the House.

§ Sir Anthony Kershaw
Has my right hon. Friend noticed that, since the electorate renewed the Government's mandate, the Leader of the Opposition has handed in his notice, the next Leader of the Opposition has lost his voice, the leader of the Social Democratic party has quit and the leader of the Liberal party has gone on a sabbatical? Is not my right hon. Friend breaking some of the mouldier parts of Parliament?

§ The Prime Minister
I assure my hon. Friend that I am feeling very fit indeed.

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
Will the Prime Minister state today when the Government will restore the cut in invalidity benefit, which affects 620,000 long-term sick and disabled people? Is she aware that the Government's cuts have slashed the living standards of a married man on invalidity benefit with three children by £10.05 a week? Is that not a spectacular case of kicking people while they are down?

§ The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services made an extensive statement on the second day of the debate on the Loyal Address, setting out the rates of benefits for the coming year, and I have nothing to add to that.

§ Mr. Foot
Will the right hon. Lady reconsider her answer to my right hon. friend and reply to the detailed question about the figures, because a cut has been imposed on the disabled? Will she also clear up her responsibilities in some of the discussions that may have taken place in the Cabinet today and give us an undertaking that, whatever cuts the Government may propose, there will be no reduction in the real amount required to sustain the National Health Service?

§ The Prime Minister
On the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, I repeat that I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. On the second part, which relates to a statement that will be made later this afternoon, we announced our total public spending target for 1983–84 in the public expenditure White Paper published last February. We announced a total public expenditure plan of £119.6 billion, and that remains our target.

§ Mr. Foot
Does the right hon. Lady accept that to sustain the proper growth of the National Health Service there has to be a growth in spending of 1.2 per cent. in real terms? Will she give the House an absolute guarantee that that figure will be sustained?

§ The Prime Minister
The right hon. Gentleman must await further details. I expect expenditure on the National Health Service as a whole to be no less than that in the public expenditure White Paper.

Mrs. Knight
Will my right hon. Friend take a few moments today to reflect that there are many in this House, and millions outside, who are profoundly thankful that, even after four years of the rigours of leading this country and taking the key part in a strenuous general election, she does not now wish to put her feet up for two months? Is she aware that it is hoped that she may, perhaps, take a long weekend?

§ The Prime Minister
I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I like the job and intend to go on doing it as long as I possibly can.

§ Mr. Beith
Were there to be a vote in favour of the return of capital punishment for any category of murder next week, do the Government intend to introduce a Bill at an early stage which Cabinet Ministers, members of the Government, and Conservative Members will be expected to support in a whipped vote?

§ The Prime Minister
There has always been a free vote on that matter. If a Bill were to be introduced consequent upon a vote in favour of restroring capital punishment, I would expect it to be introduced by a private Member. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] Yes, indeed. I would expect, and I undertake, that the Government would give all possible drafting assistance to that private Member, because the Government would consider that to be in accordance with the wishes of the House. I would expect the Government to provide time for such a Bill to be introduced and debated during the current Session.