§ Q4. Mr. Ashtonasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 July.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. AshtonAs the Prime Minister cannot comment on her relationship with the Palace, can she comment on her relationship with her Back-Benchers? On the front page of yesterday's issue of The Times there was an article under the heading
Rebel Tories accused of Thatcher plot.What does the Prime Minister intend to do about such treachery? Or is it really a plot by the editor of the Tory The Times Mr. Rupert Murdoch, to drive a wedge between the Palace and Downing street? Is she aware that many of us hope that the Prime Minister will not be forced to resign over a constitutional crisis, because we think that she is one of the best vote-winners the Labour party has got?
§ The Prime MinisterI propose to continue to answer questions from this Dispatch Box, in the hope that one day the standard of questions from the Opposition may improve.
§ Q5. Mr. Heathcoat-Amoryasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 July.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryHas my right hon. Friend had a chance to welcome the visit of Mr. Peres to Morocco to meet King Hassan, which shows that the middle east peace process may be under way again? Since my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary is hoping to meet ANC leaders in South Africa, will my right hon. Friend in due course authorise meetings with Palestinian leaders, including members of the PLO?
§ The Prime MinisterI hope that the ANC will agree to meet my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on his visit to South Africa. If it does not do so, it will cast doubt on its commitment to try to solve the problem by peaceful means. Like my hon. Friend, I very much welcome the initiative of the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Peres, in visiting King Hassan of Morocco, with a view to a new initiative to help to solve the middle east problem. My hon. Friend will be very much aware that, unless the PLO accepts resolutions 242 and 338, I do not believe that it can be involved in negotiations to solve the middle east problem.
§ Mr. LoydenIn view of the answers given today on unemployment by the Prime Minister's right hon. and learned Friend, does she understand that the majority of people in this country now realise that the Tory Government have failed absolutely to solve the unemployment problem and that the scandal of unemployment is surpassed only by the Government's arrogance in disregarding completely the misery caused to millions of families by the direct actions of this Government?
§ The Prime MinisterThe numbers of people in employment and in self-employment are once again rising, and that is good news. In the last three years 1 million jobs have been created. In the end we will solve the unemployment problem only when companies in manufacturing and services produce the goods and services that people are prepared to buy. The most worrying thing at present is the height of unit labour costs in Britain compared to those in other countries. That could be losing us export orders.
§ Mr. Gregoryasked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 July.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. GregoryWill my right hon. Friend take this opportunity to praise the British Railways Board and its hard-working staff for turning a massive loss last year into a surplus of over £49 million before taxation? Does she agree that the investment by the Government in electrification was a good investment?
§ The Prime MinisterI gladly congratulate British Rail on its excellent achievement. It has turned from a £408 million loss in 1984–85 to a small profit in 1985–86, and that is good news. I wish British Rail well and I am glad that we decided to invest in further electrification.
§ Miss BoothroydIn view of the evasive answer given to me last week during Question Time by the Prime Minister, will she now take the opportunity to clarify her position? Is she in favour of early majority rule in South Africa, or is she not? The House demands an answer.
§ The Prime MinisterI am in favour of the process decided and described in the Nassau accord about apartheid. The Eminent Persons Group was sent to South Africa. The accord said — I shall read the whole paragraph—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer the question."]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The Prime Minister is answering the question.
§ The Prime MinisterThe accord said:
We agree on the compelling urgency of dismantling apartheid and erecting the structures of democracy in South Africa. The latter, in particular, demands a process of dialogue involving the true representatives of the majority black population of South Africa. We believe that we must do all we can to assist that process, while recognising that the forms of political settlement in South Africa are for the people of that country—all the people—to determine.That was the unanimous view of the Commonwealth.
§ Miss BoothroydOn a point of order Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerDoes it arise out of questions?
§ Miss BoothroydYes, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerAs long as it is not a supplementary question, I shall allow it.
§ Miss BoothroydIt is not a supplementary. I seek your guidance Mr. Speaker. Is it right for the First Minister of the Crown to treat the House in this way?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Lady is an experienced Chairman, and she knows that that is a supplementary question.