Mr Robert Maxwell: I cannot agree with the first part of that supplementary question. Of 100 constituency dinners which have been notified since this price increase, only about four were cancelled because of the increase. Back-dating any wage increase, in view of the present situation of the Catering Department, would not be possible.
Mr Robert Maxwell: The Catering Sub-Committee were not required to submit this question to any Government Department. We had a situation to deal with in which we were in considerable deficit. The Catering Sub-Committee took such steps as they found possible in order to remedy that situation and, in particular, to bring our banqueting charges more into line with those prevailing for similar services outside.
Mr Robert Maxwell: Will not my right hon. Friend consider inviting the French Government to make representations on behalf of the British pilots, since it is well known that their influence in Algeria is very strong? I hope that matters of protocol will not prevent my right hon. Friend from asking the French Government to help in the release of these pilots.
Mr Robert Maxwell: rose—
Mr Robert Maxwell: My constituency is the centre of the Fletton brick industry. Is my right hon. Friend aware that the only reason for the serious shortage today is because of the alarmist forecasts made by hon. Gentlemen opposite and the fact that those forecasts have been flowing out to the brick industry, the employers in that industry being only too glad to accept the advice of their former friends? When my...
Mr Robert Maxwell: I have been asked to reply. I am at present in touch with trade union representatives with a view to enlisting their co-operation in all appropriate areas in the running of the Department. I have particularly in mind the setting up of Whitley-style machinery for joint consultation. Customer choice is as adequate as our economic resources permit. The standard of food is kept as high as...
Mr Robert Maxwell: The House will be pleased to know that the trade union representatives have reacted positively to the suggestion that Whitley-type machinery be set up. I hope soon to announce further arrangements, including a wage increase which is so desperately needed. As to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, customer choice is very closely related to what the customer is prepared...
Mr Robert Maxwell: I have been asked to reply. Stocks of wine have recently been run down, because in the present financial situation the Refreshment Department cannot continue to allow a great deal of its cash to be tied up in such large stocks. This run-down was preparatory to putting the supply of wine on an entirely new basis, which will relieve the Department of the need to tie up capital in stocks of...
Mr Robert Maxwell: I am not aware that there has been any restriction on the selection of wines. There has for a period of two or three days been no service of a particular carafe wine due to shortage of staff, but this has now been remedied.
Mr Robert Maxwell: I can say that an increase has been promised, and I hope the increase will be paid as from October of this year.
Mr Robert Maxwell: Would my hon. Friend rather have seen arms supplied by the United States to Saudi Arabia, instead of our supplying them and helping our balance of payments?
Mr Robert Maxwell: Can my hon. Friend say what are the nationalities of the other ships which are locked in the canal, and what Governments are they with whom he is having consultations about the possibility of getting the passengers and the ships released?
Mr Robert Maxwell: Is my right hon. Friend aware that we on this side of the House deeply deplore and resent the personal cheap attack by the Leader of the Opposition on the Foreign Secretary? Further, will my right hon. Friend consider making sure that the Foreign Secretary makes it clear that he was pulling the former Administration's chestnuts out of the fire in Aden and that it was because—
Mr Robert Maxwell: Would my right hon. Friend tell the House what news he has as to when our application to enter the Common Market will be considered, having regard to the fact that the Foreign Ministers of the E.E.C., because of the grave situation in the Middle East, had to postpone consideration of our application?
Mr Robert Maxwell: Will my right hon. Friend consider setting up a Post Office unit trust, since this form of saving appeals to a great many people? Since the Post Office is now being set up as a trading corporation, here is a way of encouraging saving and increasing the profitability of the Post Office.
Mr Robert Maxwell: While agreeing with my right hon. Friend that reorganisation of the B.B.C. and I.T.A. may not be necessary, could he tell the House whether he is satisfied with their present performance on educational television and with the use of television and the radio networks for industrial training purposes? Can he say what steps he proposes in order to improve them?
Mr Robert Maxwell: Will my right hon. Friend provide time for a debate about the recent disgraceful behaviour of the Chinese towards our diplomats in Peking, so that we may express our disgust at this sort of barbarious behaviour towards our representatives?
Mr Robert Maxwell: Would my hon. Friend consider that, whereas the present manifestations and demonstrations were only a try-out, if she and her Department will do nothing to reorganise local government to enable the people, through political expression, to support the Governor and orderly government, we are likely to land ourselves into the kind of trouble which we may not be able to hold without a...
Mr Robert Maxwell: Will my right hon. Friend tell the House what concessions the American negotiators made on their notoriously unfair tariffs on chemicals on the so-called A.S.P. system? Further, can he tell the House whether it is a fact that the main reason for the success of the negotiations was the strength and unity of the negotiators of the E.E.C. countries?
Mr Robert Maxwell: Is my right hon. Friend aware that industry very much welcomes the setting up of the I.R.C.? Can he say on which industries its intervention will be made public?
