Mr Michael Welsh: Of course, like good married couples, we fall out sometimes. In fact, I often feel like strangling her. But I would never dream of divorcing her—never.
Mr Michael Welsh: It was morally right that the club should go back to playing bingo. However, if the tax is imposed, we may find that some will return to their previous hobbies. The mining villages would be afraid of that happening because of the great moral standing that they like to maintain. In moving the motion, the Minister referred to institutions other than Mecca paying more than £1,000 a week in...
Mr Michael Welsh: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. That is most probably what is happening. Why are those yachts not taxed before they leave the country? Why not tax more of the things enjoyed by the rich? The reason is that the party in power is determined to attack only one section, namely, the working class. I ask the Minister to tell me of one Bill in which the present Government have attacked the rich....
Mr Michael Welsh: I come from Yorkshire. I hope that one of our cricketers will hold the fort for the country today. However, I should like to mention another place which is not often talked about in Yorkshire because it is on the other side of the Pennines. I have nothing against Lancashire. It has produced some good cricketers.
Mr Michael Welsh: I did not mean to say anything to hurt my hon. Friends from Lancashire. Lancastrians can play cricket. If the law of diminishing returns applies, what will the Government tax next? All that I can think of—with respect to my friends from Lancashire—is clogs. Many kiddies in Lancashire and Yorkshire wear clogs. Clogs are coming back into use, because, due to the burdens imposed by the...
Mr Michael Welsh: We must try to educate those in the South. The Government are attacking the poor. Where will it end? When they have taxed bingo and clogs and not brought in the desired revenue, they will have to tax children who walk around in bare feet. The Government will have won then. They will really have attacked the working class. I am not very old—I do not mind admitting my age; I am over 35—but...
Mr Michael Welsh: I am sure that they would. It would have to be written into the legislation that that was not the case and that bird baths could be only six yards by 12 yards. The Government could tax Members of Parliament who have more than one job. That would be very nice. I am trying to obtain money for the Government from sources other than from bingo, so that they can spend £33·7 million every day on...
Mr Michael Welsh: Tax-free.
Mr Michael Welsh: Will the Minister bring to the notice of the National Coal Board the fact that because we shall be dependent upon coal for many years it should take on enough apprentices to ensure its production?
Mr Michael Welsh: It is a little embarrassing, having given notice early in the week of a wish to speak in the debate, and then spending much time preparing and writing a speech, to find that time is so restricted that one has to rush the speech. I shall of course take notice, of your recommendation and try to be brief, Mr. Deputy Speaker, so enabling more hon. Members to speak. I congratulate my right hon....
Mr Michael Welsh: Always the same excuse.
Mr Michael Welsh: Is the Minister aware that the NCB and the NUM will be thankful for this moderate increase in borrowing power and grant? If, in the two years to 1982, the increase is to rise to £4,200 million, it is worth noting that that is the figure in section 1 of the Coal Industry Act 1980. Is the figure to be above that level? If so, does it mean that the action of the NUM has knocked the Coal...
Mr Michael Welsh: asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has any plans to alter the method of allocation of aid to Third world countries; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Michael Welsh: Is the Minister aware that the Government's new policy is to offer aid to countries for industrial, commercial and political reasons, and not for development? Thus the poorest countries are suffering more, as the facts show. Will not the Minister show some compassion and change the policy so that aid goes to the poorest countries, and thus make our aid policy more meaningful?
Mr Michael Welsh: I speak against the Bill for a special reason. Despite the requests of Opposition Members in Committee, the Government have failed to adopt a reasonable approach. The reports of the proceedings in Committee confirm that my hon. Friend the Member for Merthyr Tydfil (Mr. Rowlands) handled the Bill excellently. We should not sell the nation's assets. They are the assets of the British people....
Mr Michael Welsh: What have other people to say about this firm? Various people outside this country have noted its achievements. The former chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission said about the products of this firm: They are used to treat the sick, to learn more about disease, to improve manufacturing processes, to increase the productivity of crops and livestock and to help man to understand...
Mr Michael Welsh: asked the Secretary of State for Energy what additional amounts he expects to be provided to the National Coal Board following his discussions with the industry.
Mr Michael Welsh: Is the Minister aware that miners sometimes question statements by the Government? Will he give an assurance that money will be made available to keep open the pits that were due to close before the recent discussions between the NCB and the Government, either until agreement is reached with the NUM or until they must close because of seam exhaustion?
Mr Michael Welsh: I rise to support the Bill. I shall be brief, as it is a Private Members' day and no one wants to take more time than is necessary. I declare an interest, because I come from the Doncaster metropolitan district. The racecourse is owned by the local authority, and as a ratepayer it is only right that I should declare an interest in the Bill. Doncaster's racecourse lies almost completely in...
Mr Michael Welsh: I had been about to mention that. We are very grateful to the levy board for the help that it has given us. It is not for me to say that Doncaster has one of the best racecourses—if not the best racecourse—in Britain. I leave that to others to judge. As a result of the great help that we have received, Doncaster can provide amenities for racegoers that it could not otherwise afford. As...