§ Q4. Mr. RiddickTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 January.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. RiddickDoes my right hon. Friend agree that one of the things that the British people expect from the Conservative Government is tough action on law and order [Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The House must come to order.
§ Mr. RiddickDoes the Prime Minister share my concern about the increasing problem of persistent young offenders carrying out crimes such as car crime, burglaries and joy riding? Will he confirm that the Government will take tough action to combat those problems—unlike the Labour party, which is soft on crime?
§ The Prime MinisterI will take scoffing from the Labour party on law and order when they begin to support the prevention of terrorism Acts—[Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerThe House must come to order to hear what the Prime Minister has to say—[Interruption.] All parts of the House, for that matter.
§ The Prime MinisterOn the assumption that Members of the House did not hear what I said a moment ago, I shall repeat it for their benefit. I will take words from the Opposition on law and order when they stop opposing the prevention of terrorism Acts.
I certainly agree with my hon. Friend about law and order. I certainly share his concern about the persistent offending of so many young people. I have therefore asked my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary to look urgently at the existing arrangements for dealing with juvenile offenders and to consider what new measures it is sensible to introduce. This is one of the areas of greatest concern in the growth of crime statistics and one with which we are determined to deal.
§ Q5. Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 January.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. SkinnerDoes the Prime Minister agree that the biggest problem facing this country at present is the scourge of mass unemployment? Is he aware that it is costing £9,000 for the taxpayer to finance somebody out of work? That is a total cost of £30 billion out of a public sector borrowing requirement of £37 billion. If the Prime Minister tackled that problem, he would be tackling the 766 economy's problems as well. He has the fate of 100,000 people in his hands—30,000 of them miners—in the course of the next few weeks. He could resolve the problem easily. If he will give a subsidy of only half that which is given to nuclear power he will be able to save all 31 pits and 100,000 jobs, export coal to every continent in the world and resolve some of the balance of payments problems as well. Will the Prime Minister stop dithering and do it?
§ The Prime MinisterI certainly agree with the hon. Gentleman about the scourge of unemployment. The difference between him and me would be the right method with which to deal with it and to ensure that there are long-term jobs subsequently available. I note what he says about the problem of the pits, but I have no intention of anticipating the coal review, which will be brought before the House as speedily as possible. While the hon. Gentleman continues to support policies such as a payroll tax on jobs, the social chapter, and a national minimum wage, he is not in the best position to lecture us about job losses.
§ Q6. Mr. NichollsTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 January.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. NichollsWill my right hon. Friend take time today to consider the wider implications of the rundown or closure of Devonport dockyards? Does he appreciate that the continuing uncertainty is causing unhappiness not just in the city of Plymouth but throughout the west country? I appreciate that he cannot announce a decision today, but will he at least assure the people of Devon and Cornwall that when the time comes for that decision to be made he will have their concerns very much in the forefront of his mind?
§ The Prime MinisterI appreciate the great concern in the minds of the people of Devon—and, indeed, of those of near Rosyth—concerning the decisions that need to be taken about the dockyards. I know that that uncertainty is worrying people. The Secretary of State for Defence will announce our proposals as soon as he can. I assure my hon. Friend that there will be no undue delay.