§ Q1. Mrs. Clwydasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 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.
§ Mrs. ClwydIn view of the unsatisfactory answers given by Ministers in the Department of Health and Social Security this afternoon, will the Prime Minister take immediate action to make severe weather payments available throughout Britain and improve the system before some old people freeze to death, or does she not care? How many people have to die before she takes some action?
§ The Prime MinisterAs the hon. Lady is aware, there were a number of questions about this matter this afternoon. The basis of severe weather payments was changed to that which was recommended —in other words, that they should be given at discretion. As the hon. Lady will also be aware, the cold weather payments are but a small proportion of the amount that goes towards helping pensioners and other people with fuel payments, and that has increased dramatically. Spending on help with heating has increased from £90 million in 1978–79 to £400 million this year under this Government.
§ Mr. GowIs my right hon. Friend aware that the statement issued from her office this morning to the effect that she would welcome the establishment of new arrangements to take into account the view of the Unionists in Northern Ireland will be widely welcomed? Is she further aware that there is now no justification for the strike action that has been called in Northern Ireland for Monday? Will she join those on the Conservative Benches who believe that only constitutional and lawful action in Northern Ireland is compatible with democracy in this place?
§ The Prime MinisterI am grateful to my hon. Friend. We had a useful meeting this morning with the leaders of the Ulster Unionist party and the Democratic Unionist party, which included an offer to consider, as my hon. Friend said, new arrangements to enable Unionists to make their views on affairs in Northern Ireland known to the Government. They also agreed to consider certain other matters, which I have set out in more detail and put in the Library. I agree that there is no possible reason for a strike on Monday, or at any other time. I hope that the considerations that we raised this morning will be gone into deeply by the Unionists, and we hope to meet again in a comparatively short time when I have seen the leaders of the other parties in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. SteelWhat precise steps are the Government taking, before closing the bidding for Land Rover, to ascertain the views of the employees and management, and take them into account?
§ The Prime MinisterAs the right hon. Gentleman is aware, by 4 March we need an indication of approximately the amount of those who are thinking seriously of bidding for Land Rover and Leyland Trucks. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry has seen some of the unions. It is mainly for the company to see the unions concerned. It is, of course, for the company to get the very best arrangements it can for the future employment of the workers, for future capital for the company, for the amount of the bid and generally for the future prosperity of the company as a whole.
§ Mr. Robert AtkinsIs my right hon. Friend aware that the directors of Leyland Bus are endeavouring to lead a management buy-out consortium? Will she welcome this attempt to do what the Conservative party believes in, to encourage those working for the company to participate in a financial way in their future, and will she perhaps consider making the deadline of 4 March for Leyland Bus considerably more flexible than is the case?
§ The Prime MinisterOf course, all bids will be considered by the company and by the Government. I do not think that we can move the initial deadline. It is not to have the bid fully and completely worked out; it is to indicate where there is a serious bid and the amount, roughly, that it would be expected to be.
§ Mr. KinnockMay I put to the Prime Minister the question being asked by thousands of BL workers and management, as well as millions of other people outside the company? Will she now use the power that we know she has to keep British Leyland and its constituent parts British?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the right hon. Gentleman feels strongly—and I know that he does—perhaps he will influence some of the unions, which have very considerable funds, to put in a bid for the trucks —[Interruption.]
§ Mr. KinnockMay I ask the Prime Minister why, after British taxpayers have spent so much in building up the technological base and promoting the advance of the whole corporation, she is so hell-bent on selling off to anyone at any price? Why does she not care enough about British industry to ensure that it stays in its present ownership—in the ownership of this county?
§ The Prime MinisterBecause I believe that one of the functions of British industry is to contribute to the social services and not to compete with them for resources.
§ Mr. Beaumont-DarkWill my right hon. Friend accept that many of us share her deep admiration for the Ford Motor Company of America, but will she also accept that, while Ford is expanding its spares division in this country because it believes that it is an important part of its profit base, it is unwise for us to be thinking of selling Unipart separately, so removing from Austin Rover and Land Rover an important part of their profit base? Should we not be even-handed and take Ford's advice and keep the spare parts division as the jewel in the crown?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that was quite the advice my hon. Friend was tendering when there was a possibility of exploring things with Ford. I am not sure whether he has had a sudden conversion. In fact, I think we are anxious to get as much privatisation as possible. There are requests to bid for Unipart, and I think that we must consider them properly.
§ Q2. Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. HamiltonI wonder whether the Prime Minister can help me. Is she aware that thousands of pensioners in Fife are freezing to death? How can I explain to them that they must accept a pension increase that will not buy two pints of milk, while at the same time she agreed, without a minute's hesitation, to increases of more than 40 per cent. for top civil servants, judges and admirals? How does she explain this? Is the more accurate explanation of that caring capitalism, or political thuggery?
§ The Prime MinisterI will compare this Government's record on help with fuel for pensioners with that of any previous Government, including the Government supported by the hon. Gentleman. I repeat what I said a few moments ago: spending on help with heating costs has increased dramatically from £90 million in 1978–79—the Socialist winter of discontent—to £400 million this year, an increase of £140 million in real terms. The increase in social security pensions announced yesterday follows the increase of £2.50 a week for a single pensioner and £4 a week for married pensioners announced last November.
§ Mr. HaywardWill my right hon. Friend take some time today to welcome the installation of Mrs. Aquino as President of the Philippines? Will she also take this opportunity to thank the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for its efforts during this difficult period in protecting and keeping informed those who have relatives in the Philippines?
§ The Prime MinisterI shall gladly convey my hon. Friend's message to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It will be nice for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to receive some thanks for its excellent work. The situation in the Philippines is not quite clear, but we understand that Mr. Shultz has recognised Mrs. Aquino as President. I am sure that we shall also wish her well as she embarks upon her task.
§ Q3. Mr. Altonasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. AltonDuring the course of the visit last week to the kingdom of Nepal by the Prime Minister's right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary, did he have an opportunity to raise the case of the 80 Christians who were arrested last year and who now face up to six years in prison for preaching Christianity and converting people to the Christian faith? If not, will the Prime Minister undertake to raise with the Government of Nepal the continued violation of human rights among Christians in Nepal?
§ The Prime MinisterI shall pass on the hon. Gentleman's message to my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary.
§ Q4. Mr. Nealeasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. NealeIs my right hon. Friend impressed by the tremendous efforts of British industry and commerce in increasing, as part of Industry Year, the preparedness of school pupils for working life? Does she recognise the great potential for extending these efforts by encouraging commercial organisations to participate in providing more scholarships and in providing finance for schooling?
§ The Prime MinisterThere was a meeting yesterday of industrialists and other people who are involved in the technical and vocational education initiative. This applies to higher education at the moment. The Government have provided £43 million and industry has already contributed £24 million. The industrialists referred to the importance of providing in schools good training in mathematics, physics and chemistry. One of their objectives in Industry Year will be to take very much more interest in schools and to have much more contact with them to ensure that pupils show a greater interest in careers in manufacturing and technology.
§ Q5. Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursMay I have an assurance from the Prime Minister that no bid from Lairds for Leyland Bus that is based on stripping out the assets of Leyland Bus's three plants in the United Kingdom, with a view to securing the future of Lairds' own MCW operations in Birmingham —Lairds is a bus manufacturer—will be acceptable to this Government?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government have made it clear that they will consider all serious bids with a view to giving the companies concerned, including the bus company, the best possible future. That is our objective.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesIs my right hon. Friend aware that General Motors has owned Vauxhall since 1925, that it supplied vehicles to our troops during the war and that 809 nationalistic attacks on this company are damaging the prospects of my constituents and those of other hon. Members?
§ The Prime MinisterI am grateful to my hon. Friend for making that clear. I am sure we all welcome the employment and prosperity that General Motors provides, and will continue to provide, for our people.
§ Q6. Mr. Wareingasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. WareingWill the Prime Minister tell the House how she can possibly contemplate tax reductions for the very rich in her right hon. Friend's Budget next month when she can afford only 30p extra per week for a single person on supplementary benefit, 55p per week for a married couple on supplementary benefit, and a puny 5p a week for one-parent benefit? Would she care to come around the Croxteth district in my constituency to see how working people have to live, to see how the old and the disabled have to sustain themselves on the meagre sustenance given by this Government?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman must contain himself in patience a little longer before he knows about the Budget. I am sure he cannot yet know, because I do not yet know. He must wait. I remind him that we have kept our pledges to the pensioners and have substantially reduced inflation, which is highly beneficial to the savings of pensioners. When the Labour party increased pensions there was enormous inflation and the Labour Government met some of the payments by reducing the value of savings to the pensioners. That was a dishonest thing to do.
§ Q7. Mr. Spellerasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 February.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. SpellerIs my right hon. Friend aware of the great anxiety shown parents and teachers and by everyone in 810 education about the continuing teachers' dispute ? Has she any news of a possible break in the intransigence of the NUT?
§ The Prime MinisterI share my hon. Friend's concern. We are anxious for this dispute to be brought to an end. We hope that the ACAS arrangements will ensure a satisfactory conclusion, will stop the dispute and enable children to have full-time education again, and bring about a reasonable settlement for the teachers. I have no news yet about the NUT. I believe that we shall know the result of a ballot tomorrow, but I am not able to give my hon. Friend any more news about the NUT. I hope that if the other unions agree to the ACAS settlement, the NUT will follow suit.
§ Mr. WoodallIf the Prime Minister will not consider providing an extra heating allowance for elderly people during this exceptionally cold whether, will she consider enlisting the aid of my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Small Heath (Mr. Howell) to see whether he can conjure up some warmer weather?
§ The Prime MinisterIn addition to the £400 million that is available for heating, as the hon. Gentleman is aware, severe weather payments are available, not on the objective test which hon. Gentlemen did not like last year, but on a discretionary test which we have adopted on the advice of the appropriate advisory body. That is to try to meet the protests that were made last year.
§ Mr. BuchanOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerI will permit it if it arises directly out of Questions.
§ Mr. BuchanDuring questions to the Prime Minister she was asked about the attitude of her Government to the events in the Philippines. She distinctly answered that she understood that Mr. Shultz agreed with the present situation. While she is not content with flogging off our motor car industry, can the Prime Minister tell us whether she also intends to flog off the Foreign Office?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat would be an extension of Question Time.