HC Deb 24 November 1992 vol 214 cc738-40
Q6. Mr. David Evans

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

Mr. Newton

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave some moments ago.

Mr. Evans

Will my right hon. Friend send a message to the Prime Minister saying that we on the Conservative Benches have total loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen— [Intervention.] and her Prime Minister?

When will the Asylum Bill become law? Is my right hon. Friend aware that 28 people were arrested for having 70 false identity cards? We know that the lot opposite could not care less whether the number was 700, 7,000 or 70,000 —"Let them all in," they say—but the British people and I want to know when the Bill will be on the statute book.

Mr. Newton

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is that I shall take the greatest possible pleasure in communicating to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister my hon. Friend's great declaration of loyalty and the support that it drew, I judged, from both sides of the House.

The answer to the second part is that while I cannot give my hon. Friend an exact date, his question contained a message that I can also communicate to the Home Secretary, to urge him on in his efforts, and perhaps a message for Her Majesty's Opposition in terms of the importance that is attached to the passage of that measure.

Ms. Corston

Why has the Prime Minister, as President of the European Community, put Tory party unity before the needs of the EC in such a way that it has caused the French Trade Minister to describe the British presidency as the "most calamitous" that he had ever seen?

Mr. Newton

It is clear that, as a result of his presidency of the European Community in the past few months, my right hon. Friend has played a crucial part in achieving the GATT settlement that is now in prospect.

Q7. Sir Anthony Durant

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

Mr. Newton

I have been asked to reply.

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

Sir Anthony Durant

Does my right hon. Friend agree that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister deserves our support and congratulations for what he has done on the GATT round and that that has been an important achievement for most of the world, including the underdeveloped territories? Does he further agree that it would be wrong for a small group of French farmers to hold up that vital agreement?

Mr. Newton

My hon. Friend makes an important point. In congratulating my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, perhaps we should also recognise the contribution made by Mr. Andriessen, Mr. MacSharry from the Community, Mrs. Hills—[Interruption.] It is right that we should recognise that the part played by my right hon. Friend has contributed to the efforts of others in an important way, including those whom I mentioned and Mr. Madigan from the United States. We have ensured that that negotiation now has a chance to reach a conclusion. I share the hope that my hon. Friend has expressed that it will not be frustrated by people in whose overall interests that agreement is.

Q8. Mr. Michael

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 November.

Mr. Newton

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave some moments ago.

Mr. Michael

Is the Lord President aware that the reply given to me yesterday shows that the level of aid to Somalia was less than during the years of bloody dictatorship under Siad Barré? Will he undertake that the Government will at least restore total aid to the level of 1987 and meet Britain's historical responsibility to the people of Somaliland in the north?

Mr. Newton

I understand that the principal problem in Somalia is not the shortage of funds but the difficulty in distributing the aid that we are keen to provide. As the hon. Gentleman well knows, the aid budget for next year was effectively projected in the autumn statement.

Madam Speaker

Time's up. We must now move on to the statement. Mr. Secretary Brooke.