§ Q6. Mr. SpringTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 8 March.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave some moments ago.
§ Mr. SpringCan my right hon. Friend confirm that manufacturing output rose by some 1.1 per cent. in January, well above expectations, and that in difficult world trading conditions it is the policies of low inflation, low interest rates and low corporate taxation that has made Britain a beacon of success in the world? [HON. MEMBERS: "That's a hard one, John."]
§ The Prime MinisterJust relax. My hon. Friend is entirely right. There is no doubt that the manufacturing figures today show that manufacturing output is sharply up. That is very encouraging, and it was considerably above expectations. We have seen a strong export performance particularly to non-Community countries in recent months, but equally to many European Community countries, despite the fact that their markets are in recession and are reducing in overall size. I am delighted that we are making more and selling more at home and selling more abroad.
§ Q7. Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 8 March.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago.
§ Rev. Martin SmythIs the Prime Minister aware of the answer that I was given on 1 March, which showed that during the past three years some 13 rescue operations have been carried out by Royal Navy and Royal Air Force aircraft in the territorial waters of the Irish Republic? Will he impress on Mr. Reynolds the importance of extending such co-operation to save the lives of innocent people, especially from terrorism, as the forces co-operate with the Crown forces?
§ The Prime MinisterI can certainly give the hon. Gentleman that assurance. We are constantly reviewing the co-operation with the Garda and with other elements of the security forces in the Republic of Ireland. Co-operation today is better than it has been at any stage in the past and I will continue to seek further improvement. There is a regular and good liaison specifically between the United Kingdom search and rescue authorities and the Irish marine emergency services which specifically includes a regular 150 exchange of information and participation in the appropriate joint committees, so I believe that the liaison is extremely good at present. Of course, I will seek to ensure that that remains good and is improved wherever possible.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthWill my right hon. Friend remind his G7 colleagues that there are really only three ways in which Governments can help to foster jobs—the promotion of sound finances, the deregulation of national economies and the encouragement of maximum flexibility in labour markets?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend is quite right. If we wish to have jobs that last rather than temporary jobs, we need free trade, competitive industries and a flexible labour market. That is what we have now attained and that is, I believe, the principal reason why we are the only country in the European Union where unemployment is falling and seems to be on a firm downward trend.