Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Commons question regarding the TUC, made on 22nd November 1979.
Mr. Major asked the Prime Minister when next she expects to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress.
The Prime Minister No dates have been arranged.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Commons question regarding the Tax and Price Index, made on 19th November 1979.
Mr. Major asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for the year-
Mr. Lawson The tax and price index in October was 14.8 per cent. higher than a year earlier.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s contribution to the Council House Building debate in the House of Commons on 14th November 1979.
Mr. Norman Atkinson asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many units of council housing he expects will be started in 1980; how this compares with the average number of starts over the last five years; and if he is satisfied with the progress made.
Mr. Stanley The average of new house building starts by local authorities in England over the five years 1974 to 1978 was 92,000. The level of house building in 1980, and the progress made, will depend upon the decisions made by each local authority.
Mr. Atkinson Does the Minister accept that that answer is totally evasive? Does he agree that when the figures are revealed they will represent an absolute disgrace? Is he aware that many thousands of families have no bath and no hot water and have to go through somebody else’s living room to get to the lavatory? Is he also aware that thousands of families do not enjoy normal marital relations because they have no privacy? Families are living in the most dreadful conditions, yet the Minister will announce a deplorable lack of starts next year. He is willing to be complacent and do nothing about that.
Mr. Stanley The lack of starts is a reflection of the fact that we inherited the lowest house building programme for 30 years when we took office. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to make such criticisms, he should address himself to the performance of the local authority in his constituency. In the last two years of the previous Labour Government Haringey underspent by £4.4 million.
Mr. Michael Morris Instead of worrying too much about the absolute level of council housing, will my hon. Friend address himself to the problems of London boroughs such as Islington, Haringey, Lambeth and Camden, with their thousands of council properties that remain empty? It seems that no progress is being made to deal with that situation.
Mr. Stanley I agree with my hon. Friend that it is imperative that local authorities make the best use that they can of their existing housing stocks. I deplore the fact that there are some high levels of vacancies in certain London authorities.
Mr. Dubs When considering next year’s starts, will the Minister distinguish between Conservative and Labour controlled local authorities? If he does that he will note that the tardiness in new housing starts comes mainly from Conservative-
Mr. Stanley The underspend is similar between authorities of different political complexions.
Mr. Major Would it not be more cost-
Mr. Stanley As my hon. Friend will know, one of the most unfortunate developments during the past five years has been the serious decline in the improvement programme. As a result of the new provisions that we look forward to bringing to the House on improvement and repairs, we hope to be able to reverse that trend.
Mr. Freeson I revert to the original question. Is it not correct that the figures published in the recent public expenditure White Paper are based on an assumption that there will be about 45,000 to 50,000 housing starts by local authorities? If that is correct, does not the hon. Gentleman consider that disgraceful as an intended policy?
Mr. Stanley One of the important changes that we shall be making, which will, I hope, help to reduce the appalling levels of underspend that took place when the right hon. Gentleman was a member of the previous Labour Government, will be to alter the present system of housing investment programme allocations so that local authorities have a single block, which will enable them, I hope, to make the best use of the allocations.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Commons question regarding the Rate Support Grant, made on 14th November 1979.
Mr. Major asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has held concerning the reform of the rate support grant.
Mr. Heseltine We are, of course, constantly in touch with those chiefly concerned about the defects of the present system and the future development of rate support grant, but I have held no formal consultations.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Commons question regarding sugar beet, made on 12th November 1979.
Mr. Major asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many acres in the United Kingdom were drilled for sugar beet production in 1979; and whether he considers demand will justify continued production at this level in future years.
Mr. Peter Walker The area sown to sugar beet at 1 June 1979 was about 214,000 hectares –
Current prices £ per cow
Years ending October
1975 1976 1977 1978
Hill herds 81.3 116.9 118.8 118.7
Lowland herds 84.7 103.7 110.6 118.9
Index in real terms 1975 = 100†
Hill herds 100 122 106 98
Lowland herds 100 104 95 94
* Gross margins are defined as output minus variable costs. Output per cow is measured by calf disposals during the accounting year plus market value of calves on the farm at the end of that year. Variable costs include forage costs.
† Obtained by adjusting the current price series by changes in the general Index of Retail Prices (RPI).
The text of Mr Major’s written Commons question regarding sugar, made on 9th November 1979.
Mr. Major asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received any proposals from the European Commission for the EEC sugar regime for 1980–85; if not, when he expects to receive such proposals and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Walker The Commission has not so far put forward proposals, but is expected to do so in the near future. In the absence of such proposals, I cannot make detailed comment. In general, however, I shall be aiming to secure a reduction in Community surplus production, and fair treatment for United Kingdom sugar producers and ACP cane sugar suppliers.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Commons question regarding the National Freight Corporation, made on 7th November 1979.
Mr. Major asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on his plans for the future of the National Freight Corporation.
Mr. Fowler I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel) and the hon. Members for Glasgow, Central (Mr. McMillan) and for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cowans).
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Commons question regarding efficiency levels in the Civil Service, made on 7th November 1979.
Mr. Major asked the Minister for the Civil Service what measures the Government are taking to improve general efficiency in the Civil Service.
Mr. Channon All Ministers are committed to the search for greater efficiency and have in hand the first of a series of selective examinations of their functions, in collaboration with Sir Derek Rayner. Departments have already been required to make a cut of 3 per cent. in their staff costs this year and Ministers are currently examining options for further savings in later years.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Commons question regarding the Closed Shop, made on 6th November 1979.
Mr. Major asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning proposed legislation to limit the impact of the closed shop.
Mr. Mayhew I have received many and varied representations on our proposals to reform the closed shop and we are currently considering these.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Commons question regarding Local Authorities Staff, made on 5th November 1979.
Mr. Major asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the level of local authority manpower.
Mr. King Following is the information for England and Wales:
Full-
June 1979 1,735 936 2,104
Source: Joint Manpower Watch