Engagements

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 29 Ionawr 1991.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Dennis Skinner Dennis Skinner Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee 12:00, 29 Ionawr 1991

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 29 January.

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

Photo of Dennis Skinner Dennis Skinner Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee

When the Prime Minister is travelling around North Yorkshire, will he pay a visit to York and take note that the Conservative club is having a closing-down sale because it has gone bankrupt as a result of the Government's business rate having increased from £5,000 to £15,000? Is it a Government policy to achieve a classless society by closing down Tory clubs in marginal seats? However, every cloud has a silver lining. When Labour comes into power we shall abolish the poll tax and there will be jobs in York, Derbyshire and everywhere else in Britain.

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

But not, I think, for most people working today, for they will have long since retired.

Photo of Mr Richard Holt Mr Richard Holt , Langbaurgh

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 29 January.

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave some moments ago.

Photo of Mr Richard Holt Mr Richard Holt , Langbaurgh

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this year the Northern regional health authority is receiving the largest sum that it has ever had? That is welcome news in the north of England. The 10·2 per cent. increase over last year means that the people of the north of England are getting a marvellous deal from the Government. In particular there will be the opportunity for increased capital investment in a new hospital in my constituency for which we have waited for over 10 years.

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

I am pleased to hear that. I am always pleased when my hon. Friend is pleased. He is a doughty fighter for the north and has been for many years.

Photo of Diane Abbott Diane Abbott , Hackney North and Stoke Newington

Will the Prime Minister confirm that there is nothing explicit in the appropriate United Nations resolutions that authorises an allied invasion of Iraq? Does he accept that although there is a widespread consensus in the House and internationally that Saddam Hussein must leave Kuwait, there is no such consensus for an allied invasion of Iraq to smash its military machine, with all the casualties and damage to Iraq's people and infrastructure that would result?

Photo of Mr John Major Mr John Major , Huntingdon

Resolution 678 authorises all necessary means to implement the objective of freeing Kuwait and restoring peace and security to the area. At this stage it is impossible to determine in detail precisely what that may mean. We shall need to judge that in the light of circumstances and we shall judge our actions against the security council resolutions.

Photo of Mr Bob Cryer Mr Bob Cryer , Bradford South

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, I wonder whether you have had a request from the Secretary of State for the Environment to make a statement about possible cuts in fire service provision which are the subject of an enormous lobby today by firemen and women worried about the cuts imposed by the Government on fire services?