HC Deb 06 April 1989 vol 150 cc334-6
Q4. Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the performance of the economy.

Q8. Mr. Malins

To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received regarding the performance of the economy.

Mr. Wakeham

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend receives a wide variety of representations.

Mr. Goodlad

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that, as a result of the Government's management of the economy, the number of jobs in this country has increased since 1983 by 2.75 million—which is the biggest increase of any comparable period since the war—employment is now at its highest-ever level and that those trends are particularly reflected in the north-west of England and are set fair to continue?

Mr. Wakeham

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The number of people in employment is at a record level—nearly 1 million higher than in 1979. Unemployment has been falling steeply and the figure is now more than 1 million lower than at the time of the last election campaign. The fall has been achieved in less time than the Labour party claimed that it would be able to achieve it—not that the British people remotely believed that claim any more than they believed the forecast of the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook (Mr. Hattersley) that unemployment would rise after the Conservative victory.

Mr. Malins

Bearing in mind the importance of small businesses to our economy, does my right hon. Friend agree that we should take yet further steps to minimise the impact of the uniform business rate on smaller businesses, many of which—especially in areas such as Croydon, which has a good record on rates—face swingeing rises under the present proposals?

Mr. Wakeham

I am sure that my hon. Friend will agree that the new arrangements will produce a much fairer distribution of rate burdens on commerce and industry. However, the changes are to be phased in gradually and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has proposed a generous level of protection for small businesses to give them plenty of time to adjust to the new uniform business rate.

Mr. Harry Ewing

The Leader of the House began his reply by saying, I have been asked to reply. When the Leader of the House uses those words does he not worry greatly? Is he aware that, since 1979, all his right hon. Friends who have been "asked to reply" are either in the other place or have returned to the Back Benches? Where does the Leader of the House expect to be by October this year?

Mr. Wakeham

I am always delighted when my right hon. Friend asks me to reply to questions, particularly to those from the hon. Gentleman. However, my right hon. Friend told the Leader of the Opposition that she would not be able to be here this afternoon because she has made herself available to President Gorbachev—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Wakeham

I think, perhaps, I have finished my answer.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Is it not strangely incongruous that, while the Prime Minister warmly embraces Mr. Gorbachev in London and the chemistry is good, she is perfectly willing to build Trident missiles and point them towards the Soviet Union? Will the Leader of the House—

Mr. Speaker

Order. What has this to do with the performance of the economy?

Mr. Campbell-Savours

The Prime Minister points them towards the Soviet Union and so may undermine the Soviet economy. What is the target? Is it the Soviet Union or Raisa?

Mr. Wakeham

If, on the 40th anniversary of NATO, the hon. Gentleman has not yet realised that over those 40 years a great part of the West's strength has been our defence, he has a great deal more to learn than even I thought.

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