Engagements (Hansard, 21 November 1991)

§ Q9. Mr. Tim Smith
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 21 November.

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

§ Mr. Smith
Is my right hon. Friend aware that, for the first time since the start of the recession, responses from Milton Keynes business to the latest quarterly economy survey show an increase in home sales and orders and that the more benign economic climate, with falling interest rates and falling inflation, has resulted in a further large increase in business confidence and an expectation of higher turnover and higher profits over the next 12 months? Is not that very good news indeed?

§ The Prime Minister
It is, indeed, but it was foreshadowed by the authoritative CBI survey which shows rising expectations for investment, output and exports. That means an increase in planned spending on training and innovation which has now returned to pre-recession levels.

§ Mr. Beggs
Can the Prime Minister assure the House that there will be no further concessions to the Irish 419 Republic in order to obtain the extradition of terrorist suspects to stand trial in the United Kingdom? Further, will he assure us that, if Her Majesty's Government decide to appoint a commissioner to supervise terrorist interrogations, that commissioner will be a British citizen?

§ The Prime Minister
The hon. Gentleman knows that we do not bargain and that we do not do deals. That has remained, does remain, and will remain the position.

§ Q10. Mr. Cran
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 21 November.

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

§ Mr. Cran
Is my right hon. Friend aware that my constituents in the great northern constituency of Beverley would like to get away from the iron grip of Labour-controlled Humberside council? As the Boundary Commission has already asked for that council to be abolished, does my right hon. Friend agree that the local government commission that he is to establish should consider abolishing Humberside council before any other?

§ The Prime Minister
I know of my hon. Friend's particular interest in that matter, but it would be wise to wait until our new local government commission has examined the overall structure of local government before 420 making any specific decisions. I assure my hon. Friend that we intend to ask the new commission to make that task one of its early priorities.

§ Mr. Benn
I rise to ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker, on a point—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I called the right hon. Gentleman to ask a question.

§ Mr. Benn
In that case, Mr. Speaker, my question touches on a point that I will raise with you in a moment.

§ Mr. Speaker
I would much rather that the right hon. Gentleman asks his question of the Prime Minister, not me.

§ Mr. Benn
The whole House understands that the Prime Minister's view is that the British people have no right to be directly consulted on the constitutional changes that may emerge from Maastricht. However, the Prime Minister will know, having been present for yesterday's debate, that right hon. and hon. Members in all parts of the House argue for a referendum. If the Prime Minister believes in parliamentary democracy, does he not agree that the House has a right to decide whether there should be a referendum, and will he provide an opportunity to hold one?

§ The Prime Minister
Many views can be held on the subject of referendums. I have expressed my own, and I do not intend to change it.