Business of the House
Mr. Kinnock:
Differences have become evident between the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence about the information given to the Government at the time of the bombing raid on Libya. Will the right hon. Gentleman therefore arrange for the Secretary of State for Defence to make a full statement to the House next week about what he knew, when he was told, and whether he understood what he was told?
Mr. Biffen: I am grateful for the points made by the Leader of the Opposition. [Interruption.]
Such language. I feel that we are moving back to a more conventional state of incivilities.
I thank the right hon. Gentleman very much for his most eloquent, pertinent and convincing point about the greater safety of the cities of western Europe when compared with those of the United States, which should give every encouragement to the traditional pattern of tourist and commercial trade to flow from north America to western Europe.
I will draw to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence the fact that his appearance in The Guardian today has excited widespread interest throughout the House. However, I would have thought that the comments that have been made, not least by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister have put the matter in
context.
Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson (Newbury): It is now nearly six months since the Anglo-Irish agreement was signed. Does my right hon. Friend feel that the House shall now have the chance to debate its usefulness and the progress that has been made, in view of the unhappy state of the Province?
Mr. Biffen: I will convey that expression of view to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Mr. Ron Brown (Edinburgh, Leith): Many members of the Tory party are anxious to see that compensation is paid to victims of the bombing outrage during their conference-rightly so in my view. Will the Leader of the House ensure that there is a debate which looks at the position of compensation for the innocent victims of the recent bombing outrage by President Reagan? Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that that is considered, because it is an important international issue?
Mr. Biffen: I do not think that I can helpfully add to what was said in the recent Adjournment debate on the Brighton bombing. As to the wider issues mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, the answer must be no.
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Mr. Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby): In view of the Government's continued support for American state terrorism, not only in the central Mediterranean but in Nicaragua and Angola, is it not time that we had a general debate on foreign affairs so that we specifically examine the so-called special relationship between the Prime Minister and President Reagan?
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Mr. Biffen: I always enjoy the hon. Gentleman's contributions because they remind us that he at least is on the slow passage back to social democracy. I will certainly draw the hon. Gentleman's request for a debate to the attention of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Mr. Geoffrey Dickens (Littleborough Saddleworth): Will my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House make time available to discuss the persistent and regular undermining of Her Majesty's Government position in terms of fighting for democracy and freedom against terrorism, which has continued since the Falklands crisis and which continues today? We should have the opportunity to expose those Labour Members who have so consistently tried to undermine the strict and decent stands that Her Majesty's Government are taking.
Mr. Biffen: My hon. Friend has made his point with such effectiveness that no added debate is necessary.
Mr. Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil): Has the Leader of the House seen the answer in today's Hansard which shows that the Government intend to abandon their moral responsibility towards the 11,500 ethnic minority in Hong Kong in terms of nationality, leaving them in a position where they will be citizens of one country with right of abode in another? When do the Government intend to bring the order providing for that disgraceful position before the House for debate?
Mr. Biffen: I have not seen that answer, but I shall consider the appropriate timing for such a debate through the usual channels; perhaps we shall then learn exactly how liberal is the immigration policy of the hon. Gentleman's party.
Mr. Jonathan Aitken (Thanet, South): Bearing in mind the fact that President Reagan yesterday made some important foreign policy statements as a prelude to the Tokyo summit, will my right hon. Friend try to find time for a foreign affairs debate before the summit, with special emphasis on the need to strengthen the Atlantic Alliance?
Mr. Biffen: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that point. I am conscious that we have not had a wide-ranging foreign affairs debate outside the confines of the middle east, and I shall bear in mind through the usual channels the timing of such a debate.