Mr David Bevan: Does my hon. Friend agree that part-time jobs are important, especially to women? Why do not the Opposition stop denigrating them?
Mr David Bevan: May I express the welcome that the people of Yardley will give to the consultation paper? I urge my right hon. Friend to look at one of the underlying principles, which is that a squat in one property in any local authority area would be a squat in all properties in that area. That would cover the points mentioned. I have a letter from Tracey Smith and her husband of 65 Yardley road, Acocks...
Mr David Bevan: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 18 July.
Mr David Bevan: While we welcome the impending nuclear disarmament that will emanate from the G7 summit, does my right hon. Friend agree that Britain's independent nuclear deterrent would be put at risk, and could lose all credibility, if we cancelled the fourth Trident submarine —as Labour proposes to do?
Mr David Bevan: Can my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that the social action programme could threaten 100,000 jobs in this country?
Mr David Bevan: Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree with the words of Mr. Eric Hammond this weekend, that Labour does not deserve to win if it sticks to its minimum wage policy?
Mr David Bevan: Will my right hon. Friend confirm that inward investment continues apace, and that real new jobs are being created?
Mr David Bevan: I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his excellent proposals. Will he bear in mind the reprehensible behaviour of authorities such as mine in Birmingham, which, in setting the new poll tax level, incorporated the Government's transitional relief of 65 per cent. and £25 extra to allow for non-payers of the present rate, making the total £150 higher than the Conservative proposals? Will my...
Mr David Bevan: The hon. Gentleman seems to be saying that my visit to his constituents would have been significant with regard to the promoter's plans and intentions. Will he confirm that he and his residents' organisation known as FORSE have met the various heads of Centro on several occasions to discuss in detail many matters concerning the route and the Bill? I have minutes of those meetings with me....
Mr David Bevan: rose——
Mr David Bevan: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
Mr David Bevan: Besides Mr. Hawkins, Mrs. Hawkins and Mr. Poole from FORSE and the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Davis), the following people were present at that meeting on 5 February: Mr. Ray Hughes, who is the head of Centro development; John Fallon, who is the press and public relations manager; Rod Dixon, the engineering and design manager; and Janet Kings, the principal planner. Are not...
Mr David Bevan: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
Mr David Bevan: The hon. Gentleman says that he spoke to the chairman of the PTA. It is upon the strategy of the passenger transport authority that Centro's plans have been made. Its directions have been followed by Centro as the promoter of the Bill. The hon. Gentleman spoke to the very head of the organisation, the chairman, who put the views clearly to him. The hon. Gentleman saw someone even greater than...
Mr David Bevan: At the moment, unchallenged, there is an imputation of slush fund creation by a public body so that there could be a very necessary visit. I should like the hon. Gentleman categorically to deny that there was a slush fund. However, it was either that slush fund or a different one that enabled the Select Committee on Transport also to visit Grenoble to study the railway which has been used as...
Mr David Bevan: By a fund.
Mr David Bevan: By a fund.
Mr David Bevan: Is that a slush fund?
Mr David Bevan: Well, why should this fund be a slush fund?
Mr David Bevan: If that is the case, perhaps the hon. Gentleman would be kind enough to tell us why he tabled amendments to kill off line 2 completely and to ensure that it could not be constructed.