Mr Clinton Davis: Would it not be helpful if the Foreign Secretary were to go to Nicaragua, as I have done, to see what is happening for himself rather than rely on tittle tattle from his hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. Whitney) and the American Government? If the Foreign Secretary shares President Reagan's objectives, does he also share his view that the counter-revolutionaries who are operating from...
Mr Clinton Davis: Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the Government's stance might be a little more persuasive if the Prime Minister did not so constantly resort to the stagnant language of the cold war? If the Government do not believe that our nuclear arms system should be counted within the INF talks, what objection is there to Britain making a contribution instead to START in respect of our own...
Mr Clinton Davis: What direct representations has the Foreign Secretary made, or does he contemplate making, to the Syrian Government in view of their implacable hostility to the concept of withdrawing simultaneously with the Israelis?
Mr Clinton Davis: Will the Prime Minister —instead of "Tebbiting" on consistently as she does about everyone else being responsible for unemployment except herself—take time today to tell the 1,040 youngsters in Hackney between the ages of 16 and 24, who are scrambling pathetically after 58 jobs, what the) have to thank her for?
Mr Clinton Davis: It is nearly 13 years since I made my maiden speech in the House, and it may be that this is my last speech, although not because of the efforts of the Conservative party. I hope that that is not the case because I should like to continue to serve Hackney in the House, but it may not be up to me. However, I shall leave those personally poignant observations. I am delighted to follow the hon....
Mr Clinton Davis: I think that my hon. Friend the Member for York (Mr. Lyon) made a very pertinent point, which the Minister has scarcely answered. Because of the ambiguities and the difficulties of Members of Parliament, why not simply exclude them from the ambit of this provision?
Mr Clinton Davis: If the Minister has that sense of aggression it may be because he has been something of a witch. Is he aware that workers in the citizens advice bureaux in my borough to whom I have spoken volunteered to me the fact that they were incensed by his statement and that they believe that a slur has been deliberately cast on them? If that was not his intention, why did he specifically refer to the...
Mr Clinton Davis: Sheer prejudice.
Mr Clinton Davis: Rubbish.
Mr Clinton Davis: (by private notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the United Nations arms embargo against South Africa, he will now take immediate steps to ensure that an initial consignment of radar equipment with military capability from Marconi in Britain to South Africa is not delivered.
Mr Clinton Davis: Is the Minister aware that that is a disgraceful response, which evades all the essential issues? Is he not aware that this equipment is capable of being used for military purposes? What sort of Government are they who accept such a guarantee from a Government of South Africa who have involved themselves in avoiding their obligations in respect of Namibia and many other United Nations...
Mr Clinton Davis: Has the Minister received a letter from the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers Association repudiating the allegation that he made in the recent Adjournment debate on shipping to the effect that it and other trade unions had agreed to a reduction in safety standards—as announced by him in regulations on 18 March—and will he take this opportunity to withdraw that statement which he made to...
Mr Clinton Davis: The Minister referred to the OECD. Can he explain why the Government sabotaged the aid programme devised by the EC for Nicaragua? Was it out of prejudice? What was the reason?
Mr Clinton Davis: The House will have listened to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Beaumont-Dark) with great interest. He spoke eloquently and with great concern for the problems of the hungry world, as he has done before. He is right to say that action is required, not words. It is anxiety about that which many hon. Members have felt when questioning the Government's actions. He spoke with...
Mr Clinton Davis: Obscene?
Mr Clinton Davis: The hon. Gentleman is being senseless, because my right hon. Friend paid a generous tribute to the right hon. Member for Sidcup (Mr. Heath) and other members of the commission who come from disparate political parties. The hon. Gentleman's point was less than generous to my right hon. Friend.
Mr Clinton Davis: What effect does the hon. Gentleman think his speech has?
Mr Clinton Davis: Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?
Mr Clinton Davis: Does the Minister agree that the case that has been argued by the organisation CLEAR has now been fully vindicated and that his statement, which will be welcomed by most right hon. and hon. Members, is in marked contrast to the rather feeble approach that was announced two years ago? Does he recognise that there will be demonstrable concern, which he has so far failed to indicate, over any...
Mr Clinton Davis: I congratulate the hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Temple-Morris) on introducing this debate, although it has been rather truncated. With my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Mr. Mikardo), I commend the motion but less so the hon. Gentleman's speech in support of it. The hon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Walters) has not always shown us, nor has he today, that he has the best...
