§ Q3. Mr. Flanneryasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 July.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. FlanneryMay we turn from the Scottish atmosphere of Southend-on-Sea, so that I may ask the Prime Minister— [HON. MEMBERS: "Reading"] — to return, possibly for the first time, to the subject of mass unemployment throughout our country? Is it not a fact that British Airways has recently had to state that 3,500 people—[HON. MEMBERS: "British Aerospace".]—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman is asking a question.
§ Mr. FlanneryThank you for defending me, Mr. Speaker. I gather that it is British Aerospace. None the less, is it not a fact that mass unemployment is now completely out of hand and that the Government have no answer to it? Is the right hon. Lady aware that, according to The Guardian this morning, 60,000 teachers are likely to be sacked, that 75,000 miners are in grave trouble, and that the Government have no answer of any kind? Will the Prime Minister tell us what her answer is to mass unemployment, because it is not very obvious?
§ The Prime MinisterThe reason given by British Aerospace for having to lay off people and ask others to accept redundancy is the continued depressed state of the civil aircraft market worldwide, in which, among world manufacturers, over the past three or four years, even Boeing has experienced a decline of about 80 per cent. in orders for 747 Jumbo jets. To reduce unemployment it is necessary to have efficient industry, efficient services, and well-designed products, and then to go out and market them. There is no other way.
§ Mr. AdleyIs my right hon. Friend aware that many of my constituents, who are affected by the closures at British Aerospace, recognise that what she has just said is the factual reason for this move?
405 Is my right hon. Friend further aware that a convicted IRA terrorist, at present in the United States, appears to be about to use the courts in that country to avoid extradition to this country? Does she recall that in the last Parliament we were told that discussion; were taking place between Her Majesty's Government and the American Government to try to avoid this abuse of justice? Has my right hon. Friend anything further to report to us on those talks?
§ The Prime MinisterI am aware of the case, but I am afraid that I have nothing further to report to my hon. Friend. The United States Government have not only totally and utterly condemned the giving of any moneys through Noraid to the IRA, but have done everything they can to discourage and condemn violence as a means of pursuing political ends.
§ Q4. Mr. Neil Thorneasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 July.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. ThorneDoes my right hon. Friend share the widespread concern over the action of the United States Government in imposing steel import restrictions? Does she not feel that imposing restraint on trade is a retrograde step?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree with my hon. Friend. I think that it is a deplorable action on the part of the United States, especially coming so soon after Williamsburg and the undertaking to try to reduce rather than to increase protectionism. There will be a meeting of the European Community to decide what action to take under GATT. The Community has the right to seek compensation for the loss of trade opportunities resulting from measures of that kind. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary will be taking the matter up with other Foreign Ministers in the Community tomorrow, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will be raising the matter with the American trade representative, Mr. Brock.
§ Mr. AshleyI think that the Prime Minister is right to suggest that we should suspend judgment on capital punishment until the debate on Wednesday, bat as her opinion is very important to the few waverers behind her, in making up her own mind will she remember the experience of my constituent, John Preece, who served eight years in gaol for murder and was then released because it was found that he had been convicted on crooked forensic evidence given by a forensic scientist whose evidence was defective? Is the Prime Minister aware that Mr. Preece would have been hanged had we had capital punishment at the time?
§ The Prime MinisterWe shall each make up our own mind on how to vote. I make it clear that capital punishment would be but one punishment that would be available. Even if it were approved by the House it would not be, as it was previously, the only punishment available. There is a very great difference. After the debate we shall know whether the matter is to be taken further.
§ Mr. AltonHas the Prime Minister had time to consider the report of the University Grants Committee, published yesterday, which states that more than 11,000 academic staff during the past three years have either lost or are about to lose their jobs? What is the future for university financing? What message of hope can the right hon. Lady give to A-level students this year who will be turned away from universities because places will not be available for them?
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science was asked a similar question. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman heard his reply. There is a larger proportion of the age group to which the hon. Gentleman referred in higher education now than when the Government took office in 1979. The hon. Gentleman must not ignore the great claims and expertise of the polytechnics to train people, especially in vocational training, which is often needed.