Andrew MacKay: Does not the Minister agree that the Government's disastrous regional policy is rapidly making the West Midlands into an economic desert? Does he also agree that, if we are not very careful, more than the Typhoo Tea jobs will be lost and there will be mass unemployment for the first time for many years in the West Midlands?
Andrew MacKay: asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to combat the increase in crimes of violence committed in the cities of the United Kingdom.
Andrew MacKay: Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that one of the most important deterrents is detection? Further, does he agree that the morale of the police at present, especially because of their pay, has meant that they are disastrously undermanned, with the result that the citizens of many cities, including Birmingham, fear to walk the streets at night and are not being adequately protected by us?
Andrew MacKay: Bearing in mind that the Prime Minister did not feel able to enlighten us about the Government's black list, and that many Opposition Members feel that it is morally wrong to blackmail firms when the Government do not have the guts to have a legally binding incomes policy, will the Leader of the House ask the appropriate Minister to make a statement, even if we do not have a full debate on...
Andrew MacKay: I must declare an interest first, as a partner in an estate agency practice of Jones, MacKay and Croxford in Birmingham and, secondly, as consultant to a firm of house builders in the Midlands, Birmingham Housing Industries Ltd. A survey was recently conducted among sixth-formers at a wide range of schools. They were asked whom they liked least and distrusted most in society, and two people...
Andrew MacKay: I appreciate the hon. Member's interest in the Law Society and related subjects. I am suggesting that it should be similar. It is not right to go into details now. I hope that in Committee we shall discuss this matter at greater length. It is wrong to have a civil servant administering this scheme. It would be in the interests of the Bill to look at this provision in greater depth. The...
Andrew MacKay: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I cannot understand what estate agents are doing in business at all if they are not taking deposits. The hon. Member made an eloquent point dealing with why deposits should be retained, and we would all agree with him. It surprises me to hear that there are agents who are not taking deposits. I would question their competence. I come now to the subject of...
Andrew MacKay: I think that my hon. Friend has touched upon a technical nicety. There is no licensing in the Bill, but, in effect, we are talking about registration. At least, that is how I see it. Perhaps the sponsors will disagree. In certain quarters of the House I have heard of opposition to the Bill because of the similarity of its provision to registration, so I think that I am making a valid point....
Andrew MacKay: asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the extent of derelict and unused land in Birmingham.
Andrew MacKay: Will the right hon. Gentleman join with me in congratulating the Conservative-controlled Birmingham City Council on selling derelict land to local builders on which to construct much-needed houses for first-time buyers? Does he agree that the development land tax, which he so frequently supports in this House, is actually doing a great deal of damage because it means that private developers...
Andrew MacKay: I shall not be drawn by some of the red herrings which the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selby Oak (Mr. Litterick) introduced into the debate. It would be tempting to reply to some of his intemperate language and comments about my hon. Friend the Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine), particularly when he suggested that my hon. Friend knows nothing about industrial areas because he represents a...
Andrew MacKay: Many problems in urban life have developed and become even worse in recent years. It is a pity that the hon. Gentleman still does not live in an urban area. I shall not pursue this matter, because I believe it is important to try to be as non-partisan as possible in this debate. I believe that the immense problems in our urban areas are too important for hon. Members to score party political...
Andrew MacKay: The right hon. Gentleman no doubt will be aware that there is considerable public support for the Protection of Children Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend). Is he also aware that the Bill received a Second Reading last Friday, unopposed? He will know that there is considerable backing among Private Members for the Bill, but that it is not likely to...
Andrew MacKay: Contrary to the Chief Secretary's last answer, is he aware that there is a desperate shortage of house building land in this country because of the excessively high rates of development land tax? Surely this will mean a spiral-ling of house prices, which will adversely affect first-time house buyers. Will he not do something about that situation?
Andrew MacKay: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many hon. Members on both sides of the House will be disappointed by his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Mr. Stokes)? Bearing that in mind, will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Foreign Secretary to come to the House next week and make a statement about the very serious events that happened in 1947 and the very...
Andrew MacKay: Does the Minister agree that there is an element of sex discrimination in this question when we learn from certain experience that there are just as many battered husbands in our society?
Andrew MacKay: asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to take further decisions about the level of child benefit.
Andrew MacKay: Bearing in mind that the level of child support under this Government is now even less than it was 30 years ago, is not it time that we inflation-proofed child benefits in line with tax allowances for adults and other supplementary benefits?
Andrew MacKay: Does the Leader of the House realise that many hon. Members feel that a minor disruption of Government business is not sufficient reason for not having a debate on the vital question of the internal settlement in Rhodesia?
Andrew MacKay: Does the Prime Minister agree that the Select Committee report is extremely realistic and in stark contrast to Labour Party conference motions on immigration and race relations?
