Mr Gilbert Longden: Must it not always be borne in mind that, in the lamentable and unlikely event of the hon. Member's party becoming the Government, no weather expert will be necessary because we shall know that we shall all be soaked all the time?
Mr Gilbert Longden: When my right hon. Friend sees President Pompidou, will he do what he can to ensure that our defence co-operation with France is kept as close as possible? Is there any possibility of France rejoining NATO?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Reverting to the question by the right hon. Member for Fulham (Mr. Michael Stewart), is it not rather extraordinary that we should be asked to discuss the salary of the Parliamentary Commissioner before the House has had an opportunity of discussing his work? Could not this be put off to the next Session?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind throughout these conversations that the CBI does not by any means represent all employers in this country and that the TUC does not by any means represent all the employees?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Will my right hon. Friend take the opportunity to point out how very much worse the situation would be without the Government's policy of prices and incomes and with the Labour Party's policy of no control over prices, more nationalisation and food subsidies without rationing?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Will my right hon. Friend once again make it clear to the Opposition that if necessities are scarce, and therefore dear, and are artificially made cheaper by State subsidies but are not rationed, those who are rich will get more than those who are poor?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Will my right hon. Friend tell us whether the review staff is concerned with foreign affairs? If so, has its advice been asked on how the common agricultural policy can be reviewed and hon. Members can best be elected to a directly elected European Parliament?
Mr Gilbert Longden: asked the Prime Minister if he will visit the United Nations on the occasion of the next meeting of the General Assembly.
Mr Gilbert Longden: Will my right hon. Friend ask the Foreign Secretary to suggest to the Assembly that it should bring up to date and reconsider a study that was commissioned by the late Mr. Dag Hammarskjöld in about 1958 on the question of a United Nations emergency force that could be used not only for peace-keeping purposes but for bringing instant first aid to the natural catastrophies that happen so...
Mr Gilbert Longden: My right hon. Friend keeps on referring to the beginning of the Summer Recess. When is it to be?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Must it not be true that, if necessities become scarcer, and therefore dearer, and are subsidised by the State and are not also rationed, the result is that the richer get more of those necessities than the poorer? Is that the idea of social justice held by the Opposition? Was not my right hon. Friend right when he said that large subsidies must mean rationing?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Which Department is responsible for providing this House with Parliamentary papers? Could my right hon. Friend transfer that function to another Department as quickly as possible?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Since our admirable security forces cannot be everywhere at once, does not my right hon. Friend think that the time has come when every man in Northern Ireland should be permitted to carry arms to protect his family and himself? So many murderers seem to drive off with impunity from the scene of their crimes that if I were a citizen of Northern Ireland I should be sorely tempted to carry a...
Mr Gilbert Longden: On a slightly less important, but none the less quite important matter, will my right hon. Friend take the opportunity of making it clear to President Pompidou that we know our onions and intend to stick to them?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Is my right hon. Friend aware that nowhere is the green belt more precious than in the county of Hertfordshire, the population of which has doubled since the war? Is he aware that the county council, the Hertfordshire Society and all those who love Hertfordshire are against any further increase in the population, as is suggested for the expansion of Stevenage?
Mr Gilbert Longden: Is my right hon. Friend aware that this announcement will give some satisfaction to the student body, about which I have been pressing for a long time? May I ask whether there has been any result from the inquiry into the costs of halls of residence which was being undertaken by the University Grants Committee?
Mr Gilbert Longden: I thank my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Development for coming to the House tonight and regret having had to bring him here, at this late hour, especially as my noble Friend the Under-Secretary in another place has been dealing with this important matter which vitally affects my constituents. On 15 th May 1964—nearly nine years ago—I initiated a debate in this...
Mr Gilbert Longden: asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with regard to the export of live animals.
Mr Gilbert Longden: My right hon. Friend will be aware that there is widespread anxiety about the export of live animals, especially for slaughter, and that there is confusion about which Department of the Government is responsible for policy. Can my right hon. Friend confirm that there is nothing in the Community regulations which would prevent an all-carcase trade, and that Her Majesty's Government will...
Mr Gilbert Longden: Why does not my hon. Friend leave the matter to the local authorities? Surely they must know better than the gentlemen in Whitehall. If what my hon. Friend says is true—and I think it is true—should not the local authorities, the people on the spot, be better able to appoint these people?