§ Q3. Mr. KirkhopeTo ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to visit Yorkshire and Humberside.
§ The Prime MinisterI have at present no plans to do so.
§ Mr. KirkhopeWill my right hon. Friend soon be able to visit the Yorkshire and Humberside region? She will see that the gross domestic product has doubled since 1979 and that 17,500 more companies have been established there since 1983. All of that was enhanced by the tremendous success of the urban development corporations of Leeds and Sheffield, which are presently celebrating their first anniversary. Does that not give the lie to the so-called north-south divide?
§ The Prime MinisterYes. The creation of jobs, enterprise and a higher standard of living are spreading throughout the country because of the policies that we have pursued. As my hon. Friend knows, I was in Leeds last December, visiting Asda and seeing for myself the tremendous prosperity that exists there and also seeing that the many successful companies are not only creating jobs and raising the standard of living but have a very great community spirit. They presented a large cheque for about £650,000 to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Altogether an excellent record.
§ Mr. ReesYorkshire and Humberside are doing very well on the commercial front—we are all very proud of them—aided by Labour-controlled local authorities. However, manufacturing is in decline, and it has declined mainly since the right hon. Lady's Government came to office. Will she do anything about manufacturing, or is she concerned only about commerce?
§ The Prime MinisterThe north is doing very well indeed because of the economic policies of this Government and because the people have the wit to take up opportunities and do well for themselves by their own efforts, because the enterprise and tax systems urge and encourage them to do so. That is the record of this Government, and may it long continue. The right hon. Gentleman will know that investment in manufacturing is at an all-time record, which augurs very well for the future.
§ Mr. DickensDoes my right hon. Friend remember the winter of 1978–79, when people were stranded on railway stations, could not bury their dead, and their children could not have a schools—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The question should be about Yorkshire and Humberside.
§ Mr. DickensIn Yorkshire and in Humberside. Does she recall what the people did after the so-called strikers' friends did nothing about that? They voted in a Conservative Government.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, I recall that the then Government were practically run by the unions. The people voted out the Labour Government, reversed the decline, and we have had unrivalled prosperity ever since.