401
Oral Answers
22 JUNE 1989
undoubtedly the public sector which is serving the public
les d it is such services as the privatised buses that are continuing to run. They genuinely do serve the public.
Q5. Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 22 June.
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.
Mr. Howarth: The Prime Minister's predecessor, the right hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Mr. Heath), dealt very firmly and effectively with racists within his party. In view of the comments made by the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Janman) in the House two nights ago, effectively restoring the old chestnut of repatriation, will the Prime Minister take similar effective action against him?
The Prime Minister: I did not hear the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question, but may I make it absolutely clear that there is no racism in this party-[Interruption.] and we utterly and vigorously defend the rights of all people on an equal basis.
Mr. Quentin Davies: Does my right hon. Friend agree that the proposed European social charter represents an attempt by other Community countries to impose on us the higher aggregate labour costs from which they currently suffer? To accept that charter in its current form would be to abandon an important competitive advantage which we currently have and, furthermore, the levels of investment, employment and output in this country and in the Community would be lower than they would otherwise be as a result.
Oral Answers
492
The Prime Minister: We accept, of course, that there is a social dimension to Community policy. We also accept -[Interruption.] Of course, because we were very prominent in our time in trying to steer that social dimension-[Interruption.] Oh yes-[Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker: Order. Interruptions take up a great deal of time.
The Prime Minister: In trying to steer that social dimension, and successfully steering it, to the creation of jobs. Mention any country in the Community that has created more jobs in the past five years than we have. There is not one. We were trying to steer to the creation of a very expensive system of training, because we believe that the most important thing is the creation of jobs.
With regard to the rest of the social dimension, we believe that that is a matter for each country and if that particular charter were made compulsory for many countries, most of them could not afford the social services we have, and they acknowledge that. It would then be said that there would have to be considerable subventions and subsidies paid from other countries, which, of course, the Labour party could not possibly help with because it just spends wealth, it never creates it.
Several Hon. Members: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: Order. I shall take points of order after business questions.
257 CO80/9 Job 2-10
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.