Andrew MacKay: The hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Litterick) was quite right in saying that British Leyland is one of our biggest exporters. I could not understand his argument, however, that we should introduce import controls. Would not that lead to a tariff war? I am convinced that British Leyland does not want import controls providing that competition from abroad is fair and is not...
Andrew MacKay: If they need money. They do in the private sector. As a Member of Parliament, I shall not give advice to people who have not come to us for aid. There are other very profitable sectors of Leyland, such as Jaguar, in the city that the hon. Lady represents, such as Triumph, Rover, MG, Leyland trucks and commercial vehicles. We are not suggesting that we should sell off only what is profitable...
Andrew MacKay: asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress he has made in improving industrial relations within the National Health Service.
Andrew MacKay: Does the Secretary of State appreciate that the action taken by the telephonists and other ancillary workers is affecting the morale of patients and the medical profession? The patients' health is affected because of the action.
Andrew MacKay: asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he is taking to increase house ownership.
Andrew MacKay: Is the Secretary of State aware that, due to his Government's artificial control of mortgages, many potential first-time house buyers will not now be able to buy their homes? Is he further aware that his earlier statement that this would control prices is barking completely up the wrong tree, and that we shall have a position where first-time buyers will not be able to buy, and prices will...
Andrew MacKay: Is the Lord President aware that for many weeks, especially before the Easter Recess, we have been asking for a debate on Rhodesia? Secondly, is he aware that both inside and outside the House there will be astonishment, at this crucial time for Rhodesia, that the Government are acting irresponsibly by not giving us a debate on this very important subject?
Andrew MacKay: I support the hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Edge). Many areas which are in need of attention are not included among the designated areas. My own constituency of Stechford has been left out of the designated area within Birmingham, yet some parts in the Alum Rock end of the constituency have areas of terrific deprivation, particularly where commercial enterprises have left and...
Andrew MacKay: As usual, my hon. Friend, with the far-sighted vision which the House has always recognised in him, has beaten me to it. I had intended to make that point. To continue on the theme of encouraging people back into the inner cities, we shall not get people to live there voluntarily without plenty of facilities, including good shops and plenty of jobs. The two must go hand in hand. We shall not...
Andrew MacKay: I believe that at public auction the land would go to many construction companies, which would be only too pleased to have a profitable venture to build factories or houses within the city. Alternatively, the local authority could do the same. Declaring an interest, as a builder in Birmingham, I believe that private enterprise would do it more cheaply and effectively.
Andrew MacKay: I do not think that the hon. Gentleman has taken that argument to its logical conclusion. There was a boom then, but prices later fell again. The reason that they have gone up again now is the shortage of land because of the Community Land Act, brought in by the hon. Gentleman's Government. We must encourage all State bodies to sell land in the inner cities so that this Bill, which I have...
Andrew MacKay: The Minister will be aware that my right hon. and hon. Friends and I are pleased that small businesses are being specially treated. However, I am slightly disturbed that they have to be in the designated area for 12 months. I was also disturbed to hear the lion. Gentleman say that the reasoning behind the decision was not to upset any existing regional policy. Surely it was sufficient that we...
Andrew MacKay: To counter that, I ask the Minister: who brought in capital gains tax? Who brought in many complicated bureaucratic measures which caused small businesses a great deal of difficulty in operating and discouraged them from starting? Without wishing to go too far down that road—it is an interesting argument, but I suspect that it is not relevant to the new clause—I ask the Minister: which...
Andrew MacKay: It surprises me that the Minister, of all Ministers, is loth to go outside the EEC guidelines. I recall many examples when this Government have gone outside such guidelines. Referring to the more general topic of VAT, of course the Conservative Government brought in that tax. VAT, as such, is not a tax that will adversely affect small businesses. It will affect them only if the exemption...
Andrew MacKay: I am trying to follow the argument. Is the hon. Gentleman suggesting that in Birmingham the Conservative local authority should co-opt to serve on these schemes a member of the Labour opposition group? That is a reasonable suggestion, but is it not equally reasonable, when the Minister is having consultations, to invite Opposition Members of Parliament? The hon. Gentleman cannot have it one...
Andrew MacKay: I wish to declare an interest as a practising estate agent and builder. I have given the Bill general support throughout its stages, but I have considerable reservations about this clause. For that reason I wish to associate myself with the amendment moved by my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert). What does such a provision have to do with estate agency? On the whole this is a...
Andrew MacKay: Is the hon. Gentleman suggesting that existing punishments for contravening race relations and equal opportunities legislation are not a sufficient deterrent to stop the estate agents contravening those Acts? Does he not think that the fact that an estate agent can be brought before the courts is sufficient for him to tell a client who tries to bring undue pressure to bear—and this sort...
Andrew MacKay: I beg to move Amendment No. 19, in page 4, line 38, leave out 'shows' and insert: 'can show that the act was done without his connivance or consent, and'.
Andrew MacKay: This is a minor but important amendment. I trust that, despite the smiles from the Minister of State, it will be fairly non-controversial, and that we can approve it quickly and move on to the other amendments. Hon. Memb- bers will note that in the Bill the words in question are to the effect that an employer must show that he took such steps as were reasonably practicable to prevent an...
Andrew MacKay: Bearing in mind the Minister's statement, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
