Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: Is the Secretary of State aware that there are conflicting reports about the figures that he cited? In a recent survey of community health councils, 92 per cent. agreed that nine out of every 10 district health authorities were seriously underfunded and had been forced to make cuts in essential services. They agreed that that mammoth task was being imposed on them as a result of unrealistic...
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: rose——
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: Does the Prime Minister agree that it is completely indefensible that the chairmen of the five major building societies in this country should receive a 50 per cent. increase in salary when thousands of mortgage interest payers are out of their minds and straining their wits trying to meet interest rates which are the highest in our history, combined with an evil poll tax?
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: First, I record my disapproval of the time spent by the Front-Bench teams today. They took one hour 50 minutes for their opening speeches, which deprived Back Benchers of debating time. I speak from authority as someone with eight years' experience as a senior Whip defending the interests of Back Benchers against Privy Councillors, prima donnas and alleged Front-Bench seniority. It is...
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: I have had to rush my speech, when I had the common courtesy earlier not to intervene in the speeches of other right hon. and hon. Members.
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet his counterparts in the European Commission; and what will be discussed.
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: If and when the Secretary of State meets the European Commission, will he convey to it the impoverished state of the north-western region and the fact that it is imperative that the region should get more money from European grant sources to help clear up the industrial obsolescence, bad housing and bad environment caused by 10 years of neglect by the Conservative Government?
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: Will the Minister accept that it is absolute nonsense and a total myth to describe Wigan metropolitan borough as a high-spending authority? Its average spending is 5 per cent. less on more services, with the exception of secondary education, than every other metropolitan district. How does he reconcile the fact that spending in Wigan may be only £805 per head with the fact that it will be...
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of mortgage interest paid by owner occupiers for 1988; and what is the comparative amount for the first three quarters of 1989.
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: Does the Minister agree that those are appalling and indefensible figures? Many of us believe that they are a direct result of the inept, suicidal and disastrous Government economic policies. Will he give some words of relief and wisdom to mortgage payers who are faced with the financial trauma of consistently increasing rates? Does he agree with the present Secretary of State for Employment,...
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: Does the Minister agree that the Wigan skillcentre has a very high reputation as an efficient and effective unit? It is well admired in the north-west region. Indeed, on a recent visit the Prime Minister complimented it. The Minister's statement today will do nothing to improve the efficiency of that centre, no matter to what part of the private sector it goes. Great distress and dismay is...
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: The Home Secretary stated that no positive contribution was made to the debate by my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook (Mr. Hattersley). My hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry), who is chairman of the all-party football group, spoke of the phasing in or phasing out of certain facilities. As an officer of the all-party rugby league group, I echo...
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of English Estates.
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: Given that his father was a founder director of the enterprise as long ago as 1936, does the Secretary of State accept that there must be some remorse and resentment because the Government may dismantle the corporation in the near future when the consultant's report is produced? Will the Secretary of State make a statement on that? About 5,000 factory units provide a large amount of...
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: rose—
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on making a genuine, sincere contribution to the debate. He recognises the human and fundamental elements of the industry which we are debating. I put it to him that the theme of his address supports what I said—we must get out of the market force arena and free-for-all and away from the free marketeers who indulge in cost per unit price production and...
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: I find it strange to listen to the hon. Member for Bedfordshire, North (Sir T. Skeet), who is joint chairman with me of the all-party minerals group. I listened to his statistical slug-out—something of a lecture—and never cease to be amazed that he is not a Minister for the fuel industry simply because of his highly technical knowledge, which the House has just experienced. Indeed, I...
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: The hon. Gentleman did not allow me to intervene in his speech. I shall give way to him, however, as I have every reason to believe that he will be a member of the Committee that considers the Bill.
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: I should have thought that what I have said was pure Conservative philosophy: charity begins at home. Certainly it should.[Interruption.] I do not intend to deprive the hon. Member for Bedfordshire, North of an opportunity to speak, but we have listened to him lecturing the Chamber for 20 minutes or so. He has asked for answers, so let me give him some. I am not suggesting that we should...
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe: Does the hon. Gentleman's point concern safety?
