§ Q3. Mr. Foulkesasked the Prime Minister if she will consider reviewing the arrangements for the administration of matters affecting Government Departments in Scotland.
§ The Prime MinisterI am satisfied with the present arrangements and have no plans to review them.
§ Mr. FoulkesDoes the Prime Minister recall that in her Scottish manifesto she promised to consider further changes to improve the government of Scotland? When does she plan to bring forward those changes, or is this another promise that will be reneged on, like her promise to protect the Health Service?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman asked about
arrangements for the administration of matters affecting Government Departments in Scotland."I have no complaint about those, but if the hon. Gentleman has proposals to put forward we shall consider them.
§ Mr. FoulkesThe right hon. Lady said that she would put them forward.
§ Mr. CanavanAs the Prime Minister was decisively rejected at the general election by more than 70 per cent. of Scottish voters, will she admit that she received no mandate from the people of Scotland, the majority of whom voted for candidates who stood on manifestos containing commitments to set up a Scottish assembly? If the Prime Minister pays any more than lip-service to democracy, will she now take steps to deliver to the people of Scotland what they voted for?
§ The Prime MinisterOn the basis of the hon. Gentleman's criteria, four out of the last five Labour Governments had no mandate to govern England.
§ Mr. HendersonIs my right hon. Friend aware that, outside the immediate vicinity of Glasgow, Conservative candidates received more votes than Labour candidates at the recent election? Is she further aware that Scotland appreciates the fact that she has provided not only a most admirable team of Scottish Office Ministers and Law Officers but, just as important, has ensured the continuation of Scottish influence in the United Kingdom Government?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree with my hon. Friend. We have an excellent group of Ministers in the Scottish Office, 761 an excellent group of Scottish Members elsewhere in the present Government and a marvellous group of Scottish Members in the House.
§ Mr. WilsonDoes not the Prime Minister realise that the arrangements that she finds acceptable for the administration of Scottish affairs by a Government who have no mandate from Scotland is not acceptable to the Scottish people? Why is she willing to declare that the rights of the Falkland Islanders are paramount but that the rights of Scots who have voted for self-government are not?
§ The Prime MinisterWith all due respect, the nationalist party did not do very well in Scotland at the general election.