HC Deb 04 December 1990 vol 182 cc171-2
Q4. Mr. Illsley

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 December.

The Prime Minister

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

Mr. Illsley

Is the Prime Minister aware that in some areas, particularly Sheffield, general practitioners have been prevented from prescribing certain drugs to patients, in particular young children? Without rattling out the old figures about how many patients are being treated under the NHS, will the Prime Minister tell the House whether under his Government patients and, in particular, young children will be denied the medication and treatment that they need?

The Prime Minister

I will tell the hon. Gentleman that the district health authority in his area has substantially more cash than in previous years, that the treatment of in-patients and out-patients has risen and that the quantum and quality of health treatment rises yearly.

Mr. John Browne

Does my right hon. Friend accept that one group of our citizens who should not be subjected to the community charge are British hostages in the Gulf? Will he agree to issue an advice to that effect, or even a directive under primary legislation, so that uncertainty, anxiety and anger can be removed?

The Prime Minister

I think that my hon. Friend will find that we have already sent such advice to local authorities.

Q6. Mr. Vaz

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 December.

The Prime Minister

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

Mr. Vaz

Will the Prime Minister reflect on the case of my constituent, John Hall, who is dying of leukaemia, which he contracted while working on Christmas Island? Will the right hon. Gentleman, as one of the first acts of his new Administration, reverse the Government's policy and in compassion, humanity and justice, provide John Hall and the other nuclear test veterans with the compensation that the House and the country believe that they so richly deserve?

The Prime Minister

I will examine the particular case to which the hon. Gentleman refers. I am not familiar with the details of his constituent. I will discuss it and examine it.

Mrs. Currie

Does my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister agree that today's performance has demonstrated that the two main parties have both the leaders and the policies for the next general election—for us to win, and for them to lose?

The Prime Minister

I am grateful to my hon. Friend It is not for me to reply for the right hon. Member for Islwyn (Mr. Kinnock), but if he ever needs a campaign team, I will lend him mine.

Mr. Rees

The Prime Minister will recall that the Queen's Speech promised that a Bill would be introduced to give our courts jurisdiction to try alleged war criminals. Does that promise still stand?

The Prime Minister

That Bill is in the Government's programme and it will be presented to the House. There will be suggested amendments that the House will want to examine.

Mr. Rhodes James

Those of us of a particular generation well remember when the Russian and British people were together, when Mrs. Churchill led the campaign to support the Russian people. In the present circumstances, will not only the British Government but the British people respond as they did during the last war?

The Prime Minister

There is considerable concern in this country about the difficulties faced by the Russian people and by President Gorbachev. There is also great warmth in this country for the changes brought about in the Soviet Union under Mr. Gorbachev's presidency. That feeling exists not only in the House but throughout the European Community and I have no doubt that the situation in Russia will be one of many matters discussed at forthcoming Community meetings.