§ Q1. Mr. Amessasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 11 February.
§ The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall be addressing the National Farmers Union.
§ Mr. AmessWhen planning her engagements, will my right hon. Friend take time to visit some inner city areas to see the problems for herself and how the Government are trying to tackle them? When she does that, will she make a point of not hobnobbing with those council leaders who back violence and rioters against the police?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend will be pleased to know that this morning I spent some time looking at the records of the excellent work done in inner cities under the urban programme and under the derelict land grants, and very good it is. I take seriously the point my hon. Friend makes that council leaders who undermine the role of the police do great harm to the prospects of our inner cities.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesIn view of those brilliantly coordinated, hat-in-ring weekend speeches at Blackpool, does the Prime Minister not intend to lead her Government at the next general election?
§ The Prime MinisterMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman that I have seen off two Labour Governments and hope to see off a third.
§ Q2. Mr. Gerald Howarthasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 11 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. HowarthIs my right hon. Friend aware that in my constituency, where unemployment fell by 8 per cent. between September 1984 and the end of last year, a good number of companies are reporting better export prospects, vastly improved working practices and increased profitability? Does she agree that that is in large measure due to the improved business climate encouraged by the Government under her firm leadership?
§ The Prime MinisterI am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving so cogently some of the most excellent news. There are areas where unemployment has fallen and jobs are being created. Indeed, our rate of job creation is the highest in Europe but not yet fast enough to bring about the reduction in unemployment everywhere that we wish to see. The work of manufacturing industry at the moment is rising and is excellent.
§ Mr. KinnockAs the number of people who have been unemployed for more than a year is now larger than the total who were unemployed in 1979, is it not clear that a Prime Minister, who thinks that she is too old to stay and too old to go, should relieve the whole country and get out?
§ The Prime MinisterMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman that I have not only seen off two Labour Governments; but I have seen off three Labour leaders and I hope to see off a fourth.
§ Mr. KinnockThat does not convince anybody on the Labour Benches, and it convinces very few Conservatives. It convinces even fewer outside the House. Is it not the case that, given much longer, the Prime Minister will see off the country?
§ The Prime MinisterI hope that we shall have a third Conservative Government, which would be greatly to the country's advantage. The greatest disadvantage to the country would be if the Labour party won. That will not happen.
§ Q3. Mr. Sackvilleasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 11 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. SackvilleHas my right hon. Friend taken note of the fact that our aerospace industries exported £4 billion of production last year, representing a 22 per cent. growth over the previous year? In the light of that magnificent achievement by the entire work force of aerospace industries, will she repudiate the constant carping and attempts to denigrate our manufacturing future by the Opposition?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, gladly. I congratulate British Aerospace on its excellent export record. I also 778 congratulate many other manufacturing industries, because last year exports by manufacturing industries reached an all-time high, which is a matter for congratulation to both management and work force alike.
§ Dr. OwenIs the Prime Minister aware that there is a widespread feeling that petrol prices at the pumps are not coming down anywhere near fast enough? To ensure that they do come down, will she scotch any rumours that the Government intend to increase the price of petrol?
§ The Prime MinisterI have had a similar question twice recently, and I have pointed out that I hope that petrol prices will come down further and faster. The right hon. Gentleman is trying a fast one about the Budget, but he will not succeed.
§ Q4. Mr. Pawseyasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 11 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. PawseyIs my right hon. Friend aware that although the United Kingdom continues to be the most generous in student support, recent changes in supplementary and housing benefit, allied to an increase in grant of 2 per cent., may cause some hardship to some students? Therefore, does she agree that we should again be looking at a mix of student loans and grants?
§ The Prime MinisterI am grateful to my hon. Friend for pointing out that in the United Kingdom student grants are still the best the world over. I note what he says about student loans. I think that perhaps a number of students may take up loans privately, which, of course, they are free to do. I would also point out that the proportion of 18-year-olds going into higher education is the highest ever. That is good news.
§ Mr. DormandWill the Prime Minister give urgent attention to the serious inconsistency which has arisen in connection with the modified colliery review procedure? Is she aware that the assessor in the case of Bates' colliery in Northumberland has upheld the appeal saying that he must take into consideration the social and economic effects upon the community, whereas at Hordern colliery in my constituency the assessor has said that he cannot take such considerations into account? Can that contradiction continue, and if not, what does the right hon. Lady propose to do about it?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is a matter for the National Coal Board, but I will gladly pass on the points that the hon. Gentleman has made.
§ Q7. Mr. Evennettasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 11 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. EvennettWill my right hon. Friend reaffirm her commitment to nursery education and to the present statutory school starting age? Does she agree that any increase to six or beyond would be detrimental to the education of children?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. I gladly reinforce the Government's commitment to more nursery education. The level of provision for nursery children is at its best ever and I gladly confirm that there are no plans whatsoever to raise the school starting age to six years.
§ Q8. Mr. O'Brienasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 11 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. O'BrienWill the Prime Minister explain to the House and the country why Land Rover was not offered to the general public in the same way as Jaguar, so as to maintain jobs and employment in Britain?
§ The Prime MinisterWe would like to have the privatisation of the whole of British Leyland. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, there are negotiations with General Motors for trucks and Land Rover-Leyland, and I think it best that those should be pursued. Should there be any other offers, they will be considered.
§ Sir Kenneth LewisIs my right hon. Friend aware that survival statistics produced by the Government show that women last longer than men?
§ The Prime MinisterI am grateful to my hon. Friend for making that deduction. I shall do my best to ensure that it continues to be correct.
§ Q9. Mr. Ashleyasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 11 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. AshleyIs the Prime Minister aware that more than 7,000 people were killed or seriously injured in industry, including the construction industry, last year, and that the Government's proposals to relax health and safety legislation will cause even more deaths and more serious disabilities? Will the Prime Minister put workers first for a change, and change her mind about the proposed legislation?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not believe that any relaxations in health and safety provisions are occurring that could possibly have that effect, or anything like it. If that were so, we would look at the proposal again.
§ Q10. Mr. Marlowasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 11 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. MarlowAs there is quite a lot of pressure now to improve the prospects in the private rented sector of housing to make new housing stock available to the general public, and as the Housing Bill is in Committee, would it not be a good idea if some amendments were put forward and the Government agreed to them?
§ The Prime MinisterI recognise the importance of my hon. Friend's supplementary question and his desire to increase the stock of houses in the private rented sector. That is something to which we must give our attention. Whether this comes within the long title of the Housing Bill is not for me to say.