HC Deb 25 May 1995 vol 260 cc935-6
Q2. Mr. Dunn

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Southfleet, Kent. [24651]

The Prime Minister

I have no current plans to do so.

Mr. Dunn

What advice would the Prime Minister give the leadership of the trade union, Unison, which may be about to inflict a vicious national strike on the British people? The last time Unison inflicted a strike on the British people—

Mr. Mackinlay

What has this to do with Kent?

Mr. Dunn

People are concerned about it in Southfleet.

The last time Unison inflicted a national strike on British people, hospitals were closed, schools were shut down, operations were cancelled and the dead were left unburied.

The Prime Minister

I believe that any form of industrial action in the health service would be bound to harm patients. It is difficult to see how it could do anything else. My hon. Friend has provided a graphic reminder of what happened on a previous occasion. I am perfectly certain that no professional nurse would wish to pursue such action, and I very much hope that that will be the overwhelming view. I hope that the few people involved will set aside the language of trade union confrontation, look at the fair offer that has been made to them by the vast majority of NHS trusts up and down the country, accept it and put the issue behind us.

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