Mr Fred Silvester: I congratulate my hon. Friend on making another contribution to the repair of the inner cities and particularly on the way in which he has done it. He spoke about capital and the involvement of the construction industry, and referred to special bids being made by January. Are we putting a time limit on that which would make it difficult to get the full benefit from such a scheme?
Mr Fred Silvester: Does my right hon. Friend recognise that many people in Manchester feel that it is better to suffer the delay that results from the decision than to be stuck with a scheme that will damage our schools for many generations?
Mr Fred Silvester: asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there has been an increase in the number of foot patrols now operated by the police.
Mr Fred Silvester: In view of the acknowledged importance of this matter, will my right hon. Friend pay special attention to that part of the Scarman report that is concerned with the status of the beat officer? Is he satisfied that police establishments are sufficient to enable enough people to carry out this duty?
Mr Fred Silvester: The savings that the Government will make are small in relation to universities at the sharp end. Is it not possible to consider a longer time span for the larger cuts, even if the existing time span for the smaller cuts is maintained?
Mr Fred Silvester: We come now to another subject in the debate. I have deliberately sought to raise the issue of university provision in the Manchester area as a whole rather than as it affects any particular university. There is a danger of getting matters out of perspective by concentrating on the now famous case of the University of Salford. I had the pleasure of listening to my hon. Friend the...
Mr Fred Silvester: I thank my right hon. Friend for publishing the addendum. In an emotional atmosphere, it is a very valuable addendum to have. It confirms the generally held view about evasion on the part of the Spanish authorities. Will my right hon. Friend therefore use this small opportunity in the House to underline to the Spanish authorities, when he sees or speaks to them, the sense of outrage that has...
Mr Fred Silvester: I do not intend to cover all the ground again. That would add nothing fresh to the debate. I regret that I cannot accept the suggestion of the right hon. Member for Salford, West (Mr. Orme) that the promoters should withdraw the clause. I take that view for two reasons. Although I agree with the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Cunningham) that in many respects this is a...
Mr Fred Silvester: I beg to move amendment No. 7, in page 84, line 14, leave out 'trading' and insert 'trader's'.
Mr Fred Silvester: The amendments are purely drafting amendments to bring the words into line with the rest of the clause.
Mr Fred Silvester: We have had a very useful debate. I do not know whether the hon. Member for Stockport North (Mr. Bennett) will seek leave to withdraw the amendment but I am glad that he tabled it. This is not a party matter. We are all disappointed that the Bill still has not solved the taxi problem. I do not think that the hon. Member for Stockport, South (Mr. McNally) quite gave credit to the promoters....
Mr Fred Silvester: I could not agree more. I am simply saying that the desk exists and that there is pressure even on the people manning the desk. The hon. Gentleman gave illustrations of the way in which people at the airport are treated. That is bad for business. It is a shame for Manchester and a shame for good taxi drivers. The sooner we can do something about it the better. With that I agree, and I am...
Mr Fred Silvester: That is so. The promoter is prepared to accept the amendment and those grouped with it. It raises no objection.
Mr Fred Silvester: Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I seek your protection because the right hon. Member for Manchester, Ardwick (Mr. Kaufman) has just referred to me obliquely, and I was the only Manchester Member who spoke in the debate. Would it not be proper for the right hon. Gentleman and for the House to recognise that there are ways of speaking about Manchester and its problems...
Mr Fred Silvester: I always think, whenever I pop into energy debates, that they are full of experts. It is a mystery to me how the average hon. Member even tries to understand the conflicting views on a proper energy pricing policy. I hope, therefore, that I shall be forgiven if I approach this subject in a somewhat simpler manner. I wish to put a number of points to my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary because...
Mr Fred Silvester: I give the right hon. Gentleman full marks for trying, but he knows as well as I do that unless the first debate on a Friday is very limited, the chances of a motion such as his being reached are always slight. The point that I am making is of great importance to the city of Manchester, and I wish to make it. I cannot control my hon. Friends. It has been a serious debate, seriously taken. I...
Mr Fred Silvester: The hon. Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs) does the Government an injustice when he says that they have not achieved anything except a slight reduction in inflation. I have listened to almost all of the debate during the past two days, and the one thing that strikes me is the complete certainty of some hon. Members about what we should do. I do not share that certainty. The management of...
Mr Fred Silvester: Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are difficulties with regard to inner and outer wards of cities? Is he further aware that the burden of the special problems of the inner cities is to some extent already borne by the ratepayers of the outer wards, who are receiving no benefit under his scheme? Has he given any thought to that problem?
Mr Fred Silvester: The hon. Member for East Kilbride (Dr. Miller) said that industrialists are concerned about their markets. That is true. We have not time to discuss every subject, and hon. Members have ranged widely in their speeches. I shall, therefore, concern myself with that point. The problems of inflation and unemployment have dominated the debate. However, there is one essential ingredient in our...
Mr Fred Silvester: rose in his place and claimed to move, That the Question be now put.