Nicholas Soames: Would my hon. Friend care to speculate on what events following the Madrid summit—at which a good deal of discussion on exports took place—led to two members of that trinity no longer holding the same posts that they held then?
Nicholas Soames: Is my hon. Friend aware that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor, for whom he and I both have a high regard, shares his concern about the quality of our statistics and the cost of counting them? One of the many imaginative programmes that the Chancellor has put in hand—even before his excellent speech on the future of the hard ecu—is the complete reform of the gathering, consideration and...
Nicholas Soames: Does my right hon. Friend agree that it would he better to get away from this extraordinary United Nations figure and to concentrate on doing what we do well—delivering a high quality of aid? That is what matters.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 April.
Nicholas Soames: May I return my right hon. Friend to the mutiny at Strangeways prison? [HON. MEMBERS' ``Yes."] Having regard to the earlier answer that she gave, may I ask if she is aware that there is a significant body of public opinion in Britain which cannot understand why the recapture of the prisoners should have been allowed to take such a long time? Will she reassure the House that the prison service...
Nicholas Soames: Would my right hon. Friend find time today to send a message to Mr. Mugabe to congratulate him on his re-election and on the considerable progress made in Zimbabwe in the past 10 years? Will she also express to Mr. Mugabe the great concern of a number of people in this country at the prospect of Zimbabwe sliding into a one-party state? Will she urge him to readopt the principles of the...
Nicholas Soames: My hon. Friend and I had the honour of serving in Committee on that Bill. Does he recall that Labour policy has changed twice since the Committee stage? Such policy as we were able to get out of the Opposition changed immediately afterwards, and it has subsequently changed again. What conclusions does my hon. Friend draw from that?
Nicholas Soames: Is my hon. Friend aware of the circumstances in West Sussex, where terrible damage was inflicted on temporary hutted classrooms during the recent storms? Will my hon. Friend pay close attention to those difficulties to see whether financial assistance can be given to those schools?
Nicholas Soames: In my hon. Friend's distinguished contribution at the ECOFIN meeting, did he have the opportunity to tell his colleagues on that body of the substantial support in industry in this country for full British membership of the European monetary system?
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweath Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with the Federal Republic of Germany.
Nicholas Soames: Will my right hon. Friend particularly welcome yesterday's decision by the Federal Republic to negotiate a treaty on the Polish borders? Does he agree that that most happily coincides with a major objective of British Government policy? Does he further agree that the events surrounding the two Germanies further underline the importance of our maintaining an ever closer relationship with the...
Nicholas Soames: My right hon. Friend will acknowledge the almost inevitable feeling of disappointment that has come as a result of this statement. On the other hand, he will have been sustained by the congratulations that he has rightly received on what has been achieved. Does he agree that it is of immense importance that the rather unattractive sucking up to the red Chinese for major contracts in Hong Kong...
Nicholas Soames: Will my right hon. Friend encourage, in every international forum that he attends, a full and generous response from the international community to the fundamental changes that have taken place in South Africa, and which need to take place in the future? Does he agree that the hopes and aspirations of the black community in South Africa will be best served by peaceful and steady reform and...
Nicholas Soames: Has my right hon. and learned Friend included, in the excellent White Paper, any reference to the sentencing of those involved in drink-driving cases? Is he aware of the very tragic case of my constituent, Martin Allsop, who was run down by a drunken driver on a zebra crossing and killed? When the case came to the Crown court, the driver was found guilty of careless driving, fined £250 and...
Nicholas Soames: My right hon. and learned Friend will not be aware of the tragic case of my constituent, Martin Allsop—he was married, aged 22 and had a child of six months—who was knocked down and killed on a zebra crossing by a drunken driver. At Maidstone Crown court last week, the driver of the car was found guilty of careless driving, fined £250 and banned for two years. In sharing my...
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next proposes to meet the chairman of the Commission for the New Towns.
Nicholas Soames: When my hon. Friend meets the chairman of the Commission for the New Towns, will he remind him that the commission made an exceptionally successful investment in properties of which it is now disposing in new towns, from which the taxpayer is being paid a handsome return? Will my hon. Friend have a word with the Treasury to see whether it is possible to establish from the proceeds of the...
Nicholas Soames: The figures that my hon. Friend will be able to give to the House when a similar debate is held this time next year will incorporate not only the staggeringly successful response to the privatisation of the water authorities, but the privatisation of the Property Services Agency.
Nicholas Soames: I thank my right hon. Friend for the generous increased grant in aid that his Department has given to eastern Europe. Does he agree that cultural links will be very important in the next few years? Will he assure the House that he will do what he can to encourage those links which are so vital to increased understanding on both sides?
Nicholas Soames: Will my hon. Friend join me in condemning outright this continuing and disgraceful pursuit of a loyal and devoted public servant?