Former MP for Havering Upminster
The Government's proposal to increase mortgage relief was based on fairness between one part of the country and the other. We should try to keep the mortgage relief above the threshold of average prices for the kingdom as a whole. House prices are much higher in the south-east than in the north. The Government's proposed measure is now being destroyed by the Labour party—only temporarily,...
I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's kindness in referring to me. I regret that he has always been missing on the many occasions during Finance Bill debates and many other debates in which I have spoken. It is a pity that he could not be here to hear me until now. I hope that he has enjoyed the pleasure of hearing me today.
Want in the midst of plenty must horrify us all and yet time and again we read reports of prolonged famine, which even all our modern transport and reserves of food cannot relieve quickly. I am therefore happy to welcome the Council's recommendation for the implementation of a "Special Programme to Combat Hunger in the World" within the European Community. The Commission has proposed that the...
Of course I agree with my hon. Friend. It is quite right, when we are discussing what Europe is trying to do for the underdeveloped world, to note that another great people is trying to prevent part of the underdeveloped world from peacefully growing its own crops. The Russians would be wise to allow the people of Afghanistan to go their way in peace, and to help the Western world to provide...
Although we greatly respect and support the Government's wise sense of economy and the reduction of overseas debt during the past four years, is it not true none the less that this nation is nearly twice as well off overall as it was 30 or 40 years ago, and twice as well off as it was during the last war, when we had several million men under arms? I know that we had lease-lend, but that was...
I too congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Thorne) on his initiative in giving us the opportunity to debate a subject that is of such contingent importance for the lives of millions of our fellow citizens. He is chairman of the National Council for Civil Defence and I am proud to be associated with him as a vice-president. My hon. Friend cited a letter in today's...
It is an honour to follow the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Duffy) because he is respected on both sides of the House, although he will not, I know, expect me to agree with much of what he said this afternoon. None the less, he made a significant point in stressing the difference in the effects of the recession between the north of the country and the south. There is one...
Of course it is sad that there should be a high level of bankruptcies and that the whole world economy should be in recession, with perhaps 30 million unemployed. With such a widespread recession it is inevitable that there must be some closures. The miracle is that there are not even more. But is it not a good thing for the Chancellor to address himself to the fact that we need to encourage...
