Engagements (Hansard, 22 March 1994)

§ Q6. Mr. Home Robertson
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 22 March.

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

§ Mr. Home Robertson
As the Prime Minister once dismissed Strathclyde as a monstrosity, I welcome his conversion and the fact that the Government have now decided to keep the Strathclyde passenger transport authority so as to safeguard comprehensive concessionary travel for pensioners in Strathclyde. Why are not pensioners in other parts of Scotland being allowed the same safeguards? I appeal to the Prime Minister to consider that point and to ensure that pensioners in all parts of Scotland, including the east, are given equal rights.

§ The Prime Minister
It is extremely unlikely that the hon. Gentleman would appeal to me in any circumstances. The view of Strathclyde that I hold is unaltered, as I indicated earlier with regard to the referendum, which was an expensive stunt. As to the second point, that is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

§ Mr. Skinner
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You will have heard the Prime Minister, in responding to one of my hon. Friends on the question of tax increases, say that we should condemn the council tax increases also. This means that the right hon. Gentleman was admitting that the tax increases, too, should be condemned. Will you, Madam Speaker, ensure that Hansard is not altered?

§ Madam Speaker
That is an extension of Question Time. We shall not go into that matter now.