§ Q3. Mr. Blairasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. BlairWhen people can be imprisoned for six months for, in effect, telling the British public what the Government should have told them, does the right hon. Lady not agree that there is an urgent need for legislation so that, while the interests of our national security are protected, the Government cannot conceal the scale of what they are doing from the British public and Parliament?
§ The Prime MinisterNo. I do not believe that any Government can carry on their business unless they can trust those in the Civil Service who have charge of secret documents to keep those documents to themselves.
§ Mr. AshbyDid my right hon. Friend read in the Leicester Mercury the report of Mr. Jack Jones, who said:
We are not violent men but we will not be intimidated. We have voted to work and even if we"—[HON.MEMBERS: "Reading."]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Member must not read.
§ Mr. SpeakerDid the Prime Minister hear that question? If this type of baying goes on, neither the Prime Minister nor I will be able to hear the question. Will the hon. Member please repeat his question.
§ Mr. AshbyDid my right hon. Friend read the report of the leader of the miners in Leicestershire, Mr. Jack Jones, who said:
We are not violent men but we will not be intimidated."[HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Member must not read.
§ Mr. Ashby
We have voted to work and even if we are operating the last 4 holes in the country, we will work.
§ The Prime MinisterI am not sure that I could hear all of that question precisely. The Conservative party is totally and utterly against intimidation of people who are trying to go about their law-abiding business normally. We believe that the police are doing a superb job enabling those people to get through to their place of work.
§ Q4. Mr. Tim Smithasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. SmithIs my right hon. Friend aware of the disgraceful campaign being conducted by the GLC against its abolition?—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. This type of behaviour is very unseemly.
§ Mr. SmithThat campaign includes threats amounting to blackmail of its suppliers, including my constituents. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that she remains determined to abolish the GLC and the metropolitan counties?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, the Greater London council and the metropolitan counties will be abolished in accordance with the provisions in our manifesto. A paving Bill will be introduced in the House shortly.
§ Mr. KinnockIn his negotiations in Brussels today, has the Foreign Secretary been given instructions to ensure that any agreement that he makes will contain provision for rebates to the United Kingdom that are sufficient to offset the additional £675 million contribution that will arise if our own resource subscriptions were to increase from 1 to 1.4 per cent.?
§ The Prime MinisterHe is instructed, if I might use —[Interruption.] My right hon. and learned Friend is under the same instructions as I impose upon myself. The Foreign Secretary would, of course, refer back if there were to be a change.
§ Mr. OnslowDoes my right hon. Friend think that any Government could carry on their business effectively if the Official Secrets Act 1911 were so amended as to legalise the wilful betrayal of trust by civil servants? Could not a civil servant of any grade who supposes himself or herself to be the victim of a conflict of loyalties ask to be transferred to non-controversial work or resign from the service?
§ The Prime MinisterYes. I wholly agree with my hon. Friend. I note that when the matter came up during the lifetime of the previous Labour Government, in June 1976, the then Prime Minister said:
There must be absolute confidence that papers and discussions that take place are kept within the circle to whom they are given.I note that the then Leader of the Opposition said:Is the Prime Minister aware that we fully share his view about the gravity of this matter? It is essential that confidentiality of discussions and documents should be assured."—[Official Report, 17 June 1976; Vol. 913, c. 738–39.]The then Prime Minister was right, and I was right to support him.
§ Mr. WinnickHow can the Prime Minister possibly justify the all-embracing section 2 of the Official Secrets Act, which was described by the present Home Secretary 140 six years ago as indefensible? Do a Government who have shown such contempt for civil liberties welcome such a section to deal with all those who happen to displease them?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Franks report on the Official Secrets Act was published in 1972. The Labour Government held office from 1974 until 1979. During those five years they could have introduced legislation, but they did not. In 1979 we introduced legislation which did not find favour with the House. We have no intention at present of introducing further legislation.
§ Mr. LeighIs my right hon. Friend aware that an internal CND document—[HON. MEMBERS: "Leak."]—on cruise, just published, instructs CND members to render the deployment of cruise missiles militarily useless by informing the world, including our enemies, of exactly where they are sited? Does my right hon. Friend agree that that confirms the impression of many Conservative Members that Lenin's willing dupes in the CND are now doing the Soviet's dirty work for them?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is correct. They are making a fundamental attack on the defence, security and liberties of our country, including the liberties that enable them to have freedom of speech and demonstration.
§ Mr. BeithWould not the country be far better governed if freedom of information legislation protected those areas that should be in the public domain and left the apparatus of the law to protect far fewer secrets?
§ The Prime MinisterWe try to keep protection to such matters as are vital. The hon. Gentleman must understand that it is vital to keep certain matters confidential for security reasons and certain negotiations confidential for commercial reasons.
§ Mr. HeddleI refer to my right hon. Friend's answer to Question No. 2. Has she yet read the Audit Commission's report, which shows that local authorities have amassed £250 million in rent arrears? Does she agree that that is a classic case for putting out, at least to the voluntary housing movement, the collection of rent and the housing management function?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree with my hon. Friend that it would be possible to put the collection out to the private sector, possibly with profit to the public sector.
§ Mr. Frank CookWill the Prime Minister take this opportunity to make a clear and unequivocal statement of support for the principle that the wishes of the Clevelanders must be paramount?
§ The Prime MinisterI make a clear and unequivocal statement of support for the manifesto upon which the Conservative party fought the general election.