1121
Oral Answers
25 MAY 1989
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the eply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Fraser: Does the Prime Minister acknowledge that since the last general election the rate of inflation has doubled, the trade deficit has quadrupled and mortgage rates are going through the roof? If those are signs that the Prime Minister is doing well, what will happen if she does badly?
The Prime Minister: As the hon. Gentleman is aware, to use the rate of inflation is unacceptably high, but to the Labour party it was unsustainably low. It is better than it could sustain for more than a few months. Our performance has given the highest standard of living ever known, the highest number of jobs and a rate of inflation infinitely below the 26 per cent. rate of the Labour party.
Q3. Sir Julian Ridsdale: To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 May.
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Sir Julian Ridsdale: In view of the turmoil in China can my right hon. Friend give some assurances to the people of Hong Kong as, in the present situation, there must be considerable anxiety among them?
The Prime Minister: I share my hon. Friend's view and I believe that there must be very great concern in Hong Kong about events in China. My hon. Friend will recall the joint declaration we negotiated with China to guarantee that freedoms and the capital, economic policy, which Hong Kong enjoys, should continue for 50 years after 1997. I believe that it is very much in China's long-term interests to make that agreement work and to see Hong Kong remain stable and prosperous. I believe that that will be the case and we shall do everything possible to see that it is.
Q4. Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 May.
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Livingstone: Has the Prime Minister been briefed on the contents of the book "Who framed Colin Wallace?”? Is she aware that it contains specific details and evidence of acts of treason by the security services and that it contains specific records, on the record, from former members of the armed forces and the Civil Service confirming those acts? What advice would she give to Members of the House who wish to pursue such allegations, when her own Ministers continue to be evasive whenever those issues are raised?
The Prime Minister: No, Sir, I am not aware of the particular allegations in the book referred to by the hon. Gentleman. I dealt fully with allegations of that kind in my statement to the House on 6 May 1987 and I have nothing further to add to that statement.
Q5. Mr. Robert B. Jones: To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 May.
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
578 CO66/8 Job 2-8
HKB 020/14
Oral Answers
17
1122
Mr. Jones: Will my right hon. Friend find time today to plan a visit to Lisburn and North Down where she would find that a huge number of people who see the path away from sectarian politics as being Conservative party participation in elections there?
The Prime mister: I have been to Lisburn and I had a very warm welcome from all of the people there and I greatly enjoyed my visit. I shall not be able to get there very quickly, but I understand the point that my hon. Friend has made.
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson: Will the Prime Minister please explain to the House how we can have a record deficit on the import of manufactures and, at the same time, barely reach the 1979 level of investment in the manufacturing industry? Will she explain to the House what has happened to the supply side miracle in the economy?
The Prime Minister: The supply side miracle has given us the highest standard of living the country has ever known, the highest standard of business investment ever known and now, as I am sure the hon. Gentleman will be very glad to welcome, the highest level of investment in manufacturing industry in real terms.
Q6. Mr. Goodlad: To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 May.
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Goodlad: Will my right hon. Friend find time today to congratulate the police in Wolverhampton on their prompt and effective action in apprehending, earlier in the week, those who were dealing in crack? Will she reassure the House that she will give every support to those involved in making sure that that evil trade, which has brought so much misery and degradation to other parts of the world, is never allowed to take root here?
The Prime Minister: I believe that the police were entirely right to take firm action against drug dealers and that crack peddlers must know that they have no safe haven. I believe that the disturbances that followed the enforcement of the law at Heath Town on Tuesday night were absolutely disgraceful. I also believe that the police should be warmly commended on the action they took and on the way in which they restored order, quickly and effectively. I believe that, in doing so, they have the support of the overwhelming majority of the people of our country.
Q7. Mr. Madden: To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 25 May.
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Madden: Does the Prime Minister believe that the threatened expulsion of diplomats and journalists threatens the improving good relations between Britain and the Soviet Union, which are most welcome to the overwhelming majority of people of both countries?
The Prime Minister: I hope that the hon. Member is not suggesting that we should refrain from taking action against people who are carrying out unacceptable activities in this country. We found those people in both the Soviet and the Czech embassies and we had to take action against them. The action had to be taken regardless
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.