Engagements (Hansard, 24 November 1987)

§ Q4. Mr. Atkinson
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

§ The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

§ Mr. Atkinson
Does my right hon. Friend recall that last month she received a telegram from the newly formed Moscow branch of the International Society for Human Rights, the release of whose leaders, Alexander Ognorodnikov and Vallry Sendlrov, many right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House campaigned for in recent years, and who are now resuming monitoring of the Helsinki Final Act? Does my right hon. Friend agree that the existence of such groups without discrimination, harassment and persecution will be the shrewd test of glasnost and the end of the Stalin terror?

§ The Prime Minister
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I recall that telegram. I agree with my hon. Friend that the right of such groups to operate freely, which was guaranteed by the Helsinki accords, will be one of the tests of openness and democracy in the Soviet Union. But it is encouraging that two of the founders of the group, whom my hon. Friend mentioned, both with a long record of human campaigning, were released from prison earlier this year.

§ Mr. Wallace
The Prime Minister will be well aware that in the run-up to the Ministers' conference on pollution in the North sea there has been much criticism from nations traditionally friendly towards us, not only of the extent to which Britain is responsible for pollution of the sea, but of the degree to which we have been feet-dragging in coming to agreements to do something about it. Is the Prime Minister concerned about Britain being known as a bad neighbour? If so, what initiatives will Britain be taking this week to clean up the North sea and this country's image?

§ The Prime Minister
We are delighted to be hosting the second international conference on the protection of the North sea. The United Kingdom is committed to a clean North sea, and is therefore ready to play its part. The majority of pollution input to the North sea is via rivers, and with £200 million of expenditure on improvement, I am pleased to say that the Thames is just about the cleanest metropolitan river in Europe.

§ Mr. Andrew MacKay
During her busy day, will my right hon. Friend consider the claims that Vanessa Redgrave and two other members of the CND funded the operation to spring George Blake from Wormwood Scrubs? Bearing in mind that at a recent press conference Miss Redgrave appeared to admit to that serious crime, should not Miss Redgrave, Mr. Pottle and Mr. Randle be charged?

§ The Prime Minister
As the House knows, charging people for a crime is not a matter for me but for the prosecuting authorities.

§ Mr. Livingstone
Will the Prime Minister explain to the House how she equates her view that there should be no negotiations with the IRA with her membership of a 139 previous Conservative Government in which Lord Whitelaw actually met and negotiated with the IRA? Can she assure us that there have been no further contacts between the IRA and members of her intelligence services, MI5 and MI6, during the last eight years?

§ The Prime Minister
Ever since 1979 the policy of the Government has been that we have no contact at ministerial level with the IRA or with other terrorist organisations. They are working fundamentally against the citizens of this country, fundamentally against democracy and against all innocent people in this country and in the Republic of Ireland.

§ Mr. Jim Spicer
Does my right hon. Friend agree that if criminals carry weapons and firearms and are prepared to use them, they must expect to meet that sort of force exercised on behalf of our society?

§ The Prime Minister
If there were not terrorism it would be easier to tackle these matters, but the police and the security forces who operate on our behalf must have full means for proper self-defence.

§ Q5 Mr. Harry Barnes
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

§ The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

§ Mr. Barnes
In the light of the previous exchange between the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) and the Minister for Health about open-heart surgery, will the Prime Minister ensure that the Government take action today on the case of David Barber, who has had his operation put off five times? Will she ensure that immediate action is taken so that the operation takes place and his life is saved, or is her only intention to attend the funeral?

§ The Prime Minister
I heard my hon. Friend say from the Dispatch Box that the unit of the Birmingham hospital is today back to full strength. It is hoped that the operation will now take place as soon as possible. My hon. Friend also explained that previously there was a shortage of peadiatric nurses—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] I have indicated, in answer to a previous question, that that was one reason why we need to look at the pay of nurses structurally, to see that such shortages are remedied.

§ Mr. Barry Field
As the Prime Minister's responsibilities include the security of the nation, will my right hon. Friend consider whether the advice of Arthur Scargill that members of the Communist party should be able openly to join the Labour party——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. That is not within the Prime Minister's responsibilities.

§ Q6. Mrs. Mahon
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

§ The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Lady to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

§ Mrs. Mahon
As a mother, would the Prime Minister be happy with a Government who create conditions in which a small baby has to apply for a life-saving heart operation six times, but has still not yet had it?

§ The Prime Minister
As I have stated earlier, there have been enormous increases in expenditure on the Health Service. Birmingham was short of paediatric nurses, but we are trying to deal with that problem by looking at the pay of nurses on the basis of the areas in which we need more nurses. I understand that the unit is now back to full strength and that it is hoped that the operation will take place soon.

§ Q7. Mr. Alexander
To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

§ The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

§ Mr. Alexander
Has my right hon. Friend had time to consider the current proposal of the EEC that British summer time should end in September instead of October? Bearing in mind that most people object to its ending in October, will my right hon. Friend tell her colleagues in the EEC when she next meets them that it is yet another of their daft proposals and that we do not want anything to do with it?

§ The Prime Minister
I understand that a draft directive has now been proposed that extends the existing arrangements for a further year. It would have the effect of maintaining the status quo in all countries until the end of 1989, so that we shall have time to consider whether it is advisable that we take on a similar date to Europe.