Hon. Douglas Hurd: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about the likely effect on agricultural production of the proposed wealth tax.
Hon. Douglas Hurd: Will the hon. Gentleman accept that farmers who have expressed anxiety about this matter are not enjoying a lush standard of living but by and large are people who have seen the main tool of their trade—the land—rise sharply in value? Can he, in advance of the Green Paper, do something to restore confidence in the farming industry by giving an undertaking that he will not bring in any...
Hon. Douglas Hurd: Can the right hon. Gentleman clear up two points about the announcement on the handling of European Questions which his right hon. Friend made on Tuesday? Can we take it that when Questions are tabled on European aspects which are the work of a particular Department it will still be the case that the Minister concerned at the head of that Department will answer the Questions and that they...
Hon. Douglas Hurd: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that nostalgia for the deficiency payments system does not strike an echo with the farmers who have memories of that system? Does he agree that the way in which the system was operated by his right hon. and hon. Friends between 1965 and 1970 led to virtual stagnation throughout the agricultural industry?
Hon. Douglas Hurd: asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet received the report of the Armed Services Pay Review Body; and if he will make a statement.
Hon. Douglas Hurd: It would be churlish not to thank the Secretary of State for what he has achieved in this respect on behalf of the Armed Forces, but will he look at one point which was not included in the Prime Minister's answer? It concerns the level of gratuities paid at the end of terms of service. If they were increased, might not the result be a saving to public funds since more Service men would be...
Hon. Douglas Hurd: asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a consultative document on the results of his discussions with the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers.
Hon. Douglas Hurd: Has the Secretary of State discussed with the NUM the future wage level in the industry? If so, can he tell us something about what has happened? Given that the TUC undertaking on this subject, as I understand it, applies only to the wage round more or less recently concluded, may I ask whether he accepts that the next wage round in the coal industry will be crucial to the nation's chances...
Hon. Douglas Hurd: Would the right hon. Gentleman not accept that if he pours so much cold water on one of the basic aims of the Community, namely, that members of the Community should speak as often as possible with one voice, he is weakening his bargaining position and reducing the chance of success?
Hon. Douglas Hurd: It is a great honour to catch your eye, Mr. Speaker, and to ask indulgence as a new Member speaking for a new constituency. Mid-Oxfordshire includes part of the old Banbury division, and part of the old Henley division. It would be impertinent to comment on my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten), as he is very much with us, but it is right that I should say something about Mr....
Hon. Douglas Hurd: The right hon. Gentleman would not wish to misrepresent what I said. I made no criticism of Lord Caradon. I criticised the idea first implemented in 1964, and now repeated in much less favourable circumstances—of thinking that the United Nations could be complemented, or its policy reinforced, by the making of a political appointment to the United Nations.