§ Q7. Mr. AllenTo ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to increase the amount of money being spent by Her Majesty's Government's Departments into research into the sexual abuse of children; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterWe will continue to support research into child sex abuse. We have already increased our expenditure, and further research proposals will be considered in the light of the knowledge gained from existing studies.
§ Mr. AllenIs not the Prime Minister ashamed that in 10 years her Government, through the Department of Health, has put just £1 million into this difficult and sensitive subject? Will she consider establishing a national institute for the study of the sexual abuse of children, as has been done in Canada, Australia, America and many other countries? The victims need help and the perpetrators need to be prevented. For a very small 798 amount of money the Prime Minister could do a great deal of good. Will she take that suggestion away and consider it?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that it is a question of finding extra money. Well over £800 million is provided for basic research. It would be quite easy to put into that sphere and perhaps take a little away from others, but we must decide our priorities.
The real difficulty, as I should have thought that the hon. Gentleman would know, is that of designing and conducting research and obtaining incontrovertible results. We need to ensure that projects are considered properly before they are commissioned.
§ Mr. BurtIs my right hon. Friend aware that Bury district health authority will shortly be appointing two additional consultants, thus bringing to 16 the number of such consultants appointed in the area in the past five years? Will she welcome that contribution to the Health Service?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Are these consultants concerned with the sexual abuse of children?
§ Q8. Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 May.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. MacdonaldCan I ask the Prime Minister to state her complete confidence in the prediction made by the Chancellor as recently as two months ago that inflation this year would peak at 8 per cent. and not go higher?
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing further to add to what my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor said. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that our efforts to attack inflation will be infinitely more successful than those of the last Labour Government. The Labour party was the party of inflation and when it had got inflation up to 25 per cent. had not even the resources to inflation-proof pensioners' pensions.
§ Q12. Mr. MullinTo ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 May.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. MullinHas the Prime Minister noticed that the people of Afghanistan managed to see off the Red Army without the need for nuclear weapons?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir; with a good deal of help from other people.