Mr Bob Dunn: May I join my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) in asking for an urgent early debate on the decision by Commissioner Neil Kinnock to permit the payment of a subsidy of £400 million to Iberia, the Spanish airline? Does not that show that, in 1992, the people were right to say that Mr. Kinnock was unfit to govern? It would also give us the chance to show that we are not...
Mr Bob Dunn: My hon. Friend will recall that earlier the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) was asked many times about the statement in the Sheffield Star on 21 November, which reported him as saying: I am having no truck with middle class left-wing parents who preach one thing and send their children to another school outside the area". We wondered why he would not answer any...
Mr Bob Dunn: The intervention of the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Ms Morris) demonstrates that Labour Members have come to the debate without having worked out a policy. That is something for the future. After 15 or 16 years in opposition, they still have not worked out a policy. What does that tell my hon. Friend?
Mr Bob Dunn: In contrast with local authorities.
Mr Bob Dunn: There has been a great deal of debate about the decision of the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms Harman) to send her child out of the local authority area in which she lives. Why did she make that decision? It was because she could not find a school in her locality that was up to the standard that she wanted for her child. Is that not the end of the telescope through which we should be looking?...
Mr Bob Dunn: Does my right hon. Friend recall that in earlier debates Labour was always candid about where it stood on the issue of secondary provision? Now, of course, Labour realises that it is unfashionable and unpopular to say that it would close grammar schools. It has said, and repeated in the debate, that no selective school will be able to admit pupils by interview or examination. Will my right...
Mr Bob Dunn: That was consulting.
Mr Bob Dunn: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Is there any way that the House can be adjourned, so that we may check the record of the hon. Gentleman's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson)?
Mr Bob Dunn: My right hon. Friend will be aware that in my constituency I have four grant-maintained grammar schools. If children cannot be selected for admission to those schools on the basis of interview or examination, those schools will cease to be grammar schools. Does she agree with me on that?
Mr Bob Dunn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what expenditure has been made recently from the urban investment grant scheme to encourage private sector investment in rundown areas. [8829]
Mr Bob Dunn: I recognise that this policy has brought enormous benefits to different communities in Wales, but will my hon. Friend please give the House some idea of the number of jobs that have been created as a result?
Mr Bob Dunn: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and Japan. [7891]
Mr Bob Dunn: Although I welcome those figures, to what extent would our trade with Japan grow if we reintroduced the closed shop and had worker councils, the minimum wage, union-only labour and all the policies to which the deceitful bunch opposite would sign up if given the chance?
Mr Bob Dunn: Of course I withdraw the remark, Madam Speaker. I did not mean it, in the heat of the moment.
Mr Bob Dunn: What is the hon. Gentleman's inflation target?
Mr Bob Dunn: Does my right hon. Friend agree that, when the state runs and owns everything, the people own and run nothing, and that is why it is essential to continue with the policy of privatisation, to open British Rail to consumer pressure for the first time since nationalisation in the 1940s?
Mr Bob Dunn: I am delighted to have secured the Adjournment debate this evening on the subject of hospital provision in north-west Kent as it gives me the opportunity to reaffirm my determination to help to bring about the construction of a new, all-purpose, state-of-the-art general hospital in Dartford by the end of the decade. The new hospital will serve the interests and health needs of the people of...
Mr Bob Dunn: Although I accept that a large number of empty homes are owned by local authorities, will the Minister confirm that 18 of the 20 worst local authorities in terms of empty homes are Labour-controlled?
Mr Bob Dunn: As, for the first time, passengers will now have guarantees on services and fares, can my right hon. Friend tell the House how those guarantees will be monitored? Will he continue to drive on in the way he announced, because Conservative Members want to put the passenger first, whereas the Opposition wish to leave left-wing trade unions in control of a nationalised industry?
Mr Bob Dunn: Will it be possible to have an early debate on industrial relations in this country, so that we can make an effective comparison between this country and trade union and mob-rule dominated France? Such a debate would give us an opportunity to condemn the Labour Members of the European Parliament who signed up to a resolution supporting the strikes in France, thereby proving that the Labour...