Prime Minister (Engagements)

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 June 1979.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Peter Viggers Peter Viggers , Gosport 12:00, 28 June 1979

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 June.

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend is attending the economic summit in Tokyo.

Photo of Peter Viggers Peter Viggers , Gosport

Has my right hon. Friend had a chance today to read the press reports about the German tanker "Tarpenbek" which, after a collision, is floating upside down on the Sussex coast with a cargo of 1,500 tons of oil? Is he aware of the alarm that this causes? Do the Government intend to intervene, under section 12 of the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971? More generally, will my right hon. Friend state whether he is satisfied that the Government have all the powers and facilities they need to ensure that these threats can be fought, and that compensation can be paid where appropriate?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I have had the opportunity and I would seek to give my hon. Friend the detailed reply which I think, in view of the very proper concern which exists, he would wish to have.

The Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 confers very wide powers on the Secretary of State to intervene in oil pollution emergencies, whether inside our territorial waters or on the high seas. Although we believe that our powers are very largely sufficient, the underlying international agreement relating to intervention on the high seas is currently under review in the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation.

There have been meetings which have decided that on the best advice available it was right for the "Tarpenbek" to be towed to Sandown Bay and there to have her cargo pumped out. The first part of that operation has already started

Photo of Mr Tony Benn Mr Tony Benn , Bristol South East

Will the right hon. Gentleman convey to the Prime Minister in Tokyo three points arising out of the OPEC price increase? The first is the urgent need for a world energy conference to bring together the oil producers, the consumers, and the non-oil countries. The second is the need to ensure that the oil companies do not exploit the increase at the expense of the consumers, as has happened before. Thirdly, will the Prime Minister reject those pressures, which are now evident, that the Western industrialised countries should deflate still further at a time when the increase in prices could provide work for them to meet the demand now coming from OPEC?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I accept that the price rise is a very serious matter for the Western nations. It is therefore very proper that it is at present being discussed by the leaders in Tokyo. I will ensure that the views of the right hon. Gentleman are conveyed to my right hon. Friend.

Photo of Mr Paul Bryan Mr Paul Bryan , Howden

Will my right hon. Friend find time in his programme today to see the Secretary of State for Energy and to ask him to put pressure on the oil companies to improve their distribution of farm fuel oil in the countryside? Is he aware that, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, distributors who are supplied by the Texaco company have had their supplies reduced by 30 per cent., and that these are the supplies on which the farms depend? If the position does not improve over the coming months, farmers will find themselves in a critical position at harvest time.

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. As I know from my own constituency responsibilities, this is a very serious matter in our country districts, particularly in the North of England. I undertake to speak to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy. The Government are determined to ensure that proper supplies of fuel are available to our farmers at this very important time of the year.

Photo of Mr Alastair Goodlad Mr Alastair Goodlad , Northwich

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 June.

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have just given to my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers).

Photo of Mr Alastair Goodlad Mr Alastair Goodlad , Northwich

When my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister returns from Japan, will my right hon. Friend discuss with her the report by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the Southall disturbance? Does she agree that the vast majority of people in the Asian community showed great courage and forbearance by not reacting to the provocation of the National Front, and great shrewdness in not allowing themselves to be exploited by other extremist minorities? Will he reassure the House that the Government will give their support to the Commissioner in his attempts to improve relations between the police and the ethnic minority community in Southall, so that public confidence in the impar- tiality of the police, which they so richly deserve, can be restored?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, because he has given me an opportunity to repeat what I said to the House yesterday about the developments in Southall. The Commissioner is determined to improve the community relations work of the police with the ethnic minority groups. I hope that the Commissioner will be given every encouragement and help from members of all parties in the House.

Photo of Mr David Steel Mr David Steel Leader of the Liberal Party

Is the Home Secretary aware that the Prime Minister's statement in Tokyo about the need for a swift expansion of the nuclear industry is causing some concern? Will he confirm that the Government's policy is, or should be, to make sure that every Government Department produces practical proposals for conserving energy?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

Whilst accepting that it is important to conserve energy, I should have thought that in the current circumstances facing the Western world, and this country in particular, the proposal regarding nuclear energy was both common sense and prudent.

Photo of Mr Michael McNair-Wilson Mr Michael McNair-Wilson , Newbury

In the absence of the Prime Minister, has my right hon. Friend any plans to meet the chairman of the Post Office to see what can be done to bring some order out of the present chaos in our postal services? May I press on him the thought that, whilst mail is being delivered in such a haphazard way, the idea of first-class and second-class mail might be discontinued, at least in the interim?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I accept what my hon. Friend says. This is a very serious matter. I assure him that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, whose departmental responsibility this is, is in close touch with the chairman of the Post Office.

Photo of Mr Robert Hughes Mr Robert Hughes , Aberdeen North

Wih reference to the question on petrol and oil deliveries, does the right hon. Gentleman realise what trouble he is in? How will he explain to the Prime Minister, on her return from Tokyo, that in her absence he has abandoned the policy of nonintervention in the free market?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I shall have no difficulty in doing that. I thought that what I said was, once again, simple common sense and prudence.

Photo of Sir Ray Whitney Sir Ray Whitney , Wycombe

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for Thursday 28 June.

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers).

Photo of Sir Ray Whitney Sir Ray Whitney , Wycombe

Will my right hon. Friend take an early opportunity to discuss with the Prime Minister the possibilities of bringing home to the OPEC leaders the disastrous effect the remorseless rises in the price of oil will have on the world economy and in particular on developing countries, and also the long-term effects on the interests of the OPEC countries themselves?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I accept what my hon. Friend has said. I am sure that this is one of the matters which my right hon. Friend is presently discussing in Tokyo with other leaders of the Western world.

Photo of David Winnick David Winnick , Walsall North

As the Government's policies and certainly the Budget have proved so unpopular, would it not be in the best interests of the Conservative Party if the right hon. Gentleman were to take over the leadership of his right hon. Friend?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I should regard that as a disastrous development.

Photo of Mr Michael Morris Mr Michael Morris , Northampton South

When he mentions the point raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson) about the working of the Post Office, will my right hon. Friend suggest to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister that the time has come to call in the chairmen of all the nationalised industries so that she may point out to them that their purpose is to serve the public and that the public are fed up with the services that they are getting from British Aerospace and other nationalised industries, and not least London airport?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I would not wish to be drawn on to too general a point by my hon. Friend. Clearly what he has said about the importance of the nationalised industries and their work is right. I shall certainly call the attention of my right hon. Friend to what he has said.

Photo of Mr Eric Heffer Mr Eric Heffer , Liverpool, Walton

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the reply that he gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick)? In the interests of this country, provided we still had a Tory Government, at some stage it might not be such a disastrous development.

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I should be very surprised if that day ever came.

Photo of Mr Arthur Newens Mr Arthur Newens , Harlow

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 June.

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers).

Photo of Mr Arthur Newens Mr Arthur Newens , Harlow

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether there has yet been any consideration of the extent to which the flow of refugees from Indo-China, in particular Kampuchea, has in part been fuelled by the tremendous economic dislocation there, caused by years of war, natural disaster and political upheaval? Are the Government still utterly and completely opposed to supplying aid and relief to those who are suffering great distress on the spot? Would not such an attitude be completely inhuman and comparable with the attitude previously adopted by those who refused to condemn the escalation of previous wars in Indo-China?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

We must all accept that much of the present difficulty regarding refugees in South-East Asia stems from the extremely inhumane and disastrous attitude of the Vietnamese Government. It is important to recognise that, I hope that the whole House and the world will do so, as the leaders of the Western world are at present doing in Tokyo.

Photo of Mr Michael Latham Mr Michael Latham , Melton

On that same point, when my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met Mr. Kosygin did she take the opportunity to stress to him that the Russian puppet in Vietnam should accept its international responsibilities?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

My right hon. Friend certainly discussed the matter with Mr. Kosygin and made the position of the British Government abundantly clear.

Photo of Mr Ioan Evans Mr Ioan Evans , Aberdare

In view of the tremendous number of price increases that have taken place under this Government, particularly as a result of the Budget, will the right hon. Gentleman consider reappointing a Cabinet Minister to be responsible for prices and consumer protection? In view of the further leap in petrol prices, will the Government seriously think about withdrawing the 10p tax increase?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

Without being too unkind to the right hon. Gentleman who was Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, I am amazed that the hon. Gentleman should raise such a matter in view of the record of his own Government with regard to price increases during their period of office, and, indeed, of their legacy to this Government after the election.

Photo of Mr Nigel Forman Mr Nigel Forman , Sutton Carshalton

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 June.

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers).

Photo of Mr Nigel Forman Mr Nigel Forman , Sutton Carshalton

Will my right hon. Friend take an early opportunity, when my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister returns to this country, to convey to her the strong support of many of us on these Benches for the Government's determination to cut back on the number of quangos, which are seen by everybody as a legacy and a hallmark of bureaucratic Socialism? Will my right hon. Friend continue his efforts to cut hack vigorously in that redundant area?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I assure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend will be pleased to hear what he has said about the Government's determination to proceed on that course.

Photo of Miss Joan Lestor Miss Joan Lestor , Eton and Slough

Bearing in mind that the Prime Minister is out of the country and that the Prime Minister of Zambia is visiting this country, will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what arrangements he has made for someone to see the Prime Minister of Zambia so that the latter may convey to the Government the consternation of Zambia and other African countries about any possibility of the present regime in Southern Rhodesia being offered recognition by this country?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I shall certainly make sure that I am in close touch with my noble Friend Lord Carrington, who is in charge of the Foreign Office.

Photo of Mr Ivan Lawrence Mr Ivan Lawrence , Burton

If it should become impossible to send letters and parcels through the post because we cannot get postage stamps, will there be any reasonable alternative to relieving the Post Office of its monopoly?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I hope that the situation will not arise.

Photo of Mr Mike Thomas Mr Mike Thomas , Newcastle upon Tyne East

On the subject of quangos, has the right hon. Gentleman considered the cries of anguish that would emerge from his own party hacks if what is proposed were to come about?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I do not know what the hon. Gentleman means when he refers to "party hacks".

Photo of Mr Tony Marlow Mr Tony Marlow , Northampton North

Will my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister have time today to receive a telegram from this House congratulating her on so far avoiding the fate of comrade Brezhnev in that she has not yet been kissed by President Carter? While she is considering this new love affair, will she also have time to consider the implications for the defence of Western Europe of the agreement that is being ratified between President Carter and comrade Brezhnev?

Photo of Mr William Whitelaw Mr William Whitelaw , Penrith and The Border

I think that it is very important that this country should preserve good relations with the United States of America. I am sure that relations between President Carter and my right hon. Friend will be reinforced by their contact and discussions in Tokyo.