Engagements (Hansard, 11 May 1993)

§ Q4. Sir Fergus Montgomery
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 May.

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

§ Sir Fergus Montgomery
Has my right hon. Friend seen the report today that housing starts are up 22 per cent. compared with the last quarter? Should not that news bring joy even to the hearts of the dismal Johnnies on the Opposition Benches? Is not that a sign of a return to confidence?

§ The Prime Minister
I am afraid that the Opposition are unhappy at good news. They realise that good news today for us is bad news tomorrow for them. Clearly, it shows growing confidence by the building industry in the market for new houses. That is very welcome in view of the difficulties that the construction industry has had. With the measures that the Chancellor took in the autumn statement, the measures that he took in the budget and the reduction in interest rates, there is clearly a much better prospect for the housing market.

§ Q5. Mr. Connarty
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 May.

§ The Prime Minister
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave some moments ago.

§ Mr. Connarty
Does not the Prime Minister accept that the bloody nose on Thursday was given to him personally as much as to his Government? Has it improved his listening skills area on the issue of testing children? We are to have a statement later today, but the nation is looking to the Prime Minister to see where he stands. As a Scot, I remember that we went through a period of attrition when the Government tried to force testing on to our country. Thankfully, it is now back in the hands of parents and teachers who care for children, so that test items can be used whenever they want and not compulsorily. Will the Prime Minister tell the House where he stands on the testing of children and the interference of the state in the care of parents and teachers?

§ The Prime Minister
The answer to the first part of that supplementary question is that, of course, I accept my share of responsibility for the election results last week, in precisely the same way as the right hon. and learned Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) will accept his share of responsibility for losing the last election. As for education and testing, I will tell the hon. Gentleman precisely where I stand: I stand four square with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

§ Q6. Mr. Thomason
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 1I May.

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

§ Mr. Thomason
Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is never popular to increase taxes but it is necessary to balance the books? Does he further agree that the responsibility of the Government contrasts sharply with that of Labour Members, who demand more spending but do not tell us how they would pay for it?

§ The Prime Minister
I agree with my hon. Friend and, as he indicated, measures are in place to bring down the size of the borrowing requirement. That has required some tough decisions, but, having concluded that that is necessary, the Government have taken those decisions knowing that they cannot be ducked. As my hon. Friend pointed out, the Labour party is in a fundamentally 650 dishonest position—[Interruption.] Opposition Members are committed to spending money, but they will not say where the money is coming from. That is very good for an Opposition but not for a Government, which is why we remain on these Benches and they remain on the Opposition Benches.