To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Irish Prime Minister to discuss cross-border security.

I called briefly on the Taoiseach when I visited Dublin on 28 May. The usual forum for discussing cross-border security issues is, however, the Anglo-Irish Conference, the last meeting of which took place on 19 April. A copy of the joint statement issued after that meeting has been placed in the Library.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that terrorism will be defeated only when there is no haven for terrorists anywhere in Ireland? In view of that, will he raise with the Irish Prime Minister the failures of the Republic in respect of extradition?

I hope that my hon. Friend will accept an amendment to his statement. Terrorism will be defeated only when there is no safe haven for terrorists anywhere. On the second part of his question, we discussed extradition at great length at the Anglo-Irish Conference on 19 April, as a result of which a working party of officials was set up to discuss and review the present provisions against terrorism.

Would not it be better if those who talk about cross-border security were advised to regard it in cross-frontier terms? That would bring home to them the international aspect of terrorism and perhaps prompt them to think about the lack of co-operation on extradition between the Irish Republic and the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic and West Germany. Why should hon. Members believe that there is any difference in attitude between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland in terms of the land frontier between north and south when we see what happens in the courts of the Irish Republic?

I understand the hon. Gentleman's question, but the heart of the problem lies in the legislation rather than the action taken by the courts. We regard the Irish judiciary as independent in the same way as we hope that the Republic regards our judiciary as independent. The working group of officials will consider the legislation.

I hope to remain meticulously in order, Mr. Speaker, but I should say that an explosion took place at an air force base in my constituency this morning. Does my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State agree that it is important to have further discussions with the Ministry of Defence about cross-border security in Northern Ireland and security on the mainland? We must ensure that there is increasingly effective co-operation with the Irish Republic on those matters in view of the obvious connection between IRA terrorism in the island of Ireland and the recent explosions on the mainland. Fortunately, in my constituency there were no casualties.

I entirely appreciate why my hon. Friend raises the sad event that occurred in his constituency today. We must all be grateful that no serious inuries arose. The security of defence bases is more a question for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and, of course, I shall draw his attention to it.

The Secretary of State rightly said that there should be no safe haven for terrorists anywhere, so will he ask his right hon. Friends to raise with the Trevi group the possibility of a criminal law jurisdiction agreement for the Community? We would then be able to avoid the confrontations that occasionally arise between the Irish and British Governments on extradition. The right hon. Gentleman should remember that there are a lot of other places where people have been awaiting extradition for a long time—three IRA suspects in France are awaiting extradition to West Germany. It is important to remember that the problem is not one between us and the Republic of Ireland, but is a European one, and it should be dealt with on that basis.

I read with interest the article that the hon. Gentleman contributed the other day along those lines. All suggestions as to how we achieve greater collective co-operation against terrorism are valuable and no doubt the Trevi group will consider suggestions such as the hon. Gentleman has mentioned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to develop the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Last year I introduced the cultural traditions programme aimed at promoting the greater understanding and appreciation of the shared cultural heritage of Northern Ireland and of its diversities. The budget this year is about £1·4 million.

Does my hon. Friend agree that that programme and those which I hope he will introduce in the future can make a significant contribution to breaking down the alienation between the two communities?

Many people would agree that it is unfortunate that aspects of Northern Ireland's cultural traditions have become politicised. There is much to be gained through understanding and appreciating the richness of the cultural diversity in Northern Ireland, and we are seeking to promote that.

Will the Minister assure us that the programme will pay due regard to the cultural heritage of the majority of people in Northern Ireland? The Ulster museum is currently putting on an exhibition entitled "Kings in Conflict" which helps to repair the serious omissions caused by the political censorship of the exhibition held in London in 1988. Will he take steps to cover the financial loss with which the Ulster museum is threatened which is almost entirely due to the failure of the museum in Dublin to honour its undertakings to show the exhibition there, too?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question is yes. As to the second part, we are already involved in helping to support the "Kings in Conflict" exhibition.

May I congratulate the Minister on the community funding? He is aware that much needs to be done to promote a greater interest in the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland which, together with the rest of Ireland, is intermingled with that of Britain and Scotland. That has been so throughout the centuries and even before Christian times—St. Patrick was not the first Brit to go to Ireland. Does he agree that the more people become aware of that rich cultural heritage, the closer together people will come in Northern Ireland? Perhaps that closeness would also be shared between the people of Ireland and Britain.

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his kind personal remarks. I entirely agree with his analysis and appreciate his support for a variety of cross-community and cross-cultural activities over the years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met representatives of the North Eastern education and libraries board to discuss educational provision.

The last formal meeting was on 28 April 1989.

Why are community workshops and training centres in Northern Ireland being forced out of the further education college sector? The North Eastern education and libraries board has announced the redundancy of 26 college lecturers. Should not there be proper consultation with the college lecturers so that their redeployment can be considered, the whole issue discussed and, even better, the crazy plan dropped?

The hon. Gentleman has the first part of his supplementary question slightly wrong in that the provision of training for young people is being discussed. There has been a considerable variation in colleges in quality of training and in the cost of youth training programme places, ranging from £2,000 to £7,000, although not related to quality.

Is the Minister aware that tonight on "Spotlight" there will be an exposure of a very serious matter that has arisen at the Derry youth and community workshop, headed by Mitchell M'Loughlin, one of the leaders of the IRA Sinn Fein, where £25,000 has gone missing this year? Will the Minister make a statement about that?

I was not aware of that programme.

As a former chairman of the North Eastern board, I welcome the interest that hon. Members are showing in it. Does the Minister agree that the board enjoys a high reputation with the teachers' unions for the sympathetic way in which it, with the support of the Department of Education, has dealt with redundancies?

I am happy to endorse what the hon. Gentleman says about the good relationship between the North Eastern board and the schools and colleges in its area and the good practice there, some of which was established under his distinguished chairmanship.

I congratulate the Minister on the additional provision that he has made for the Irish language in each of the five boards in Northern Ireland. What plans does he have to extend Irish language provision throughout the Province and what discussions is he currently having with representatives on that important matter?

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for those remarks. The position of the Irish language is safeguarded in the education reform new curriculum proposals in Northern Ireland. In addition, as part of the cultural heritage and cultural traditions programme, extra money has been made available to the Ultach Trust, which is seeking to develop the Irish language in Northern Ireland in its cultural context. I welcome that, because, as with a number of other subjects in Northern Ireland, these issues should be removed from the political arena and put back in the cultural affairs arena where they belong.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current security situation in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current security situation.

Since I answered a similar question on 10 May 1990, there have been three deaths arising from the security situation in Northern Ireland. Mr. Patrick Boyle, a civilian, was murdered at his home by so-called loyalists, while Mr. James Sefton, a retired member of the RUC reserve, and his wife Ellen were killed in an under-car booby-trap attack carried out by republican terrorists. The whole House will join me in condemning those cowardly and brutal crimes.

We all abhor that carnage, but the Minister must know that there can be no solution in Ireland, particularly to the security issue, unless there is a political solution. There must be some movement towards that end, so will he consider withdrawing—perhaps on a phased basis—troops from Northern Ireland, especially Scots troops? [Interruption.] That would be helpful.

The work of the security forces must be complemented and reinforced by effective political, economic and social policies. In that sense I concur with the hon. Gentleman's remarks that political development is desirable.

Has the Secretary of state given any attention to the threat issued in Bodenstown by Gerry Adams, the IRA Sinn Fein leader, and others, who said on Sunday that if there was any political progress in Northern Ireland towards devolution they would fiercely oppose it with all the power at their disposal? Does not that give the lie to the suggestion by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Brown) that political discussions would bring IRA activities to an end?

I believe that the words of Mr. Adams which the hon. Gentleman quoted show the contempt of the IRA and of Sinn Fein for political development without the use of violence. They also show the significance in Mr. Adams' mind of violence in the conduct of political affairs.

Does the Secretary of State accept that there has been a sad toll of carnage over 22 years, often resulting in the tragic loss of life of wholly innocent bystanders? Will he explain to the House any new initiative that is likely to end this carnage? Does he accept that outside the House there is widespread support for the phased removal of troops? Does he agree that all parties must be involved in negotiations to achieve that, even though I share the Government's reluctance to deal with some organisations? He should remember that in the case of Zimbabwe the Government overcame their reluctance to negotiate with Robert Mugabe and that led to a peaceful settlement at Lancaster house.

The overriding task of the Government in Northern Ireland is to defeat terrorism from whichever side of the community it comes. I said in answer to the question by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Brown) that the work of the security forces must be completed and reinforced by effective political, economic and social policies. The hon. Gentleman spoke about widespread support outside for the phased withdrawal of British troops. I do not think that he would find support for that proposition among those who look at these issues strategically. In reply to the hon. Gentleman's final proposition, I can tell him that the Government have made it clear that they have nothing to say to Sinn Fein while it continues to espouse violence.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the chorus of calls from the Opposition for the withdrawal of soldiers from that part of the United Kingdom called Northern Ireland will only give encouragement to the IRA? Will my right hon. Friend explain to the House why, four and a half years after the Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed, he has still not been able to reach an understanding with the Government of the Irish Republic which would give to the police and army in the Republic the right to pursue terrorists into the north and a similar right to our security forces to pursue suspected terrorists into the south?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his initial observations with which I concur. In negotiations conducted under the agreement and within the conference on cross-border security arrangements, there are issues on which we can and have reached agreement with the Government of the Republic about cross-border activity. As I said in answer to an earlier question, we continue to pursue those subjects.

Given the knee-jerk and ill-informed reactions which we have again seen in the House today in relation to extradition from the Republic of Ireland, will the Secretary of State make clear the precise difference between the law on extradition in this country and that in the Republic of Ireland?

On the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question, he is right to suggest that the legislation in both countries derives from the convention. There are some differences in terms of the precise interpretation placed upon the legislation and that is one reason for the employment of the working group. The hon. Gentleman mentioned tit-for-tat killings. I think that every hon. Member will endorse what he said about that.

Further to the remarks of the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume), does my right hon. Friend agree that we must try to aim for a position in which there is no need for extradition between EEC member states?

My hon. Friend opens an attractive vista. It may be too large to take in at first glance, but I shall return to it.

Will the Minister confirm, as he told me by letter, that a more extensive use of the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act 1976 may well be applicable? What are the Government doing to put that into effect? Does he agree, as I think that he has also said, that the useful proposals put forward by the Progressive Democrats, the Government coalition partner, on how extradition legislation might be differently applied in the Republic, are helpful and constructive, and that the Government would be better advised to support those proposals than to indulge in another exercise of megaphone diplomacy?

On the right hon. Gentleman's first question, I confirm what I said in correspondence. With regard to the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act, we consider carefully, on a case-by-case basis, the particular provisions that we might use in every case that we handle in conjunction with the Irish authorities.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the security situation would be infinitely worse if it were not for the supreme professionalism of our armed forces in Northern Ireland, and the professionalism and, in many cases, heroism of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Ulster Defence Regiment in Northern Ireland?

I warmly welcome my hon. and learned Friend's words. Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom owe a great debt to the security forces for the manner in which the Northern Ireland community has been protected and has been allowed, in so far as has been possible, to live a normal life over the past 20 years.

The Secretary of State will be aware that Her Majesty's Opposition support the use of the Army in Northern Ireland for as long as it is necessary to support the civil power in upholding the rule of law and to see that that is done impartially. Therefore, we should welcome the withdrawal of troops as a signal of an improvement in the situation in Northern Ireland, but until that time arises the Army must be present to support the work of the RUC.

Again, the House will be grateful to the Opposition spokesman for making clear the official Opposition's position on that matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to provide mainland electricity supply for the island of Rathlin in County Antrim.

Northern Ireland Electricity is presently giving active consideration to the matter.

I am sure that the Minister will agree that the proud island community of Rathlin has made enormous efforts to preserve its way of life and survival on the island. Does he further agree that there has been much talk, consultation and surveying, but little action to bring mainland electricity supply to Rathlin? When will he recognise that the people of Rathlin island deserve the same amenities and services as those living in the United Kingdom?

I have some sympathy with what the hon. Lady says. There has been too much talk and too little action on the matter. NIE has appointed a project manager and within the next couple of months we shall have worked out the best way of getting electricity to the island. We must also consider the capital cost and who will pay for it. We shall try to find ways of spreading the cost as widely as possible to prevent the islanders bearing too large a proportion of it and without making it uneconomic. I am determined to do everything that I can to bring the matter to a conclusion.

Is the Minister aware that there were 1,000 people in Rathlin at the turn of the century but that there are now only 100? Is it his policy to keep people on the island of Rathlin? If so, will he stop setting up projects and take action so that they can have the facilities that they deserve, in the same way as any other part of Northern Ireland?

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his constituency interest in the matter. As I told the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Miss Hoey), of course I want to keep people on the island and to enable them to enjoy the quality of life that is available throughout the rest of Northern Ireland. That is what I am trying to achieve.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to implement the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989.

The Fair Employment Commission and the Fair Employment Tribunal are both in operation, and encouraging results have been achieved both in the registration of employers and in the provision of their first monitoring returns.

The Minister will be aware that discrimination in employment contributes to division in any community, but particularly in Northern Ireland. In view of the success that has been achieved with registration and monitoring, when will the Minister be able to make his first report to the House?

The monitoring phase will be completed in the next couple of months and we shall make the results available as soon as we can. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his comments. The 1989 Act is in place and is working, and employers and employees are responding to it. I am sure that the atmosphere that it is creating will make it easier for all of us who are working together to attract more investment and jobs to the Province.

Does the Minister realise how important it is that the information given by people to the Fair Employment Commission remains confidential? Was he disturbed to read, as I was, an article by Chris Ryder in a national newspaper saying that he had obtained access to the contents of a confidential investigation report by the Fair Employment Commission? As it is vital that such information is kept confidential, will the Minister order an inquiry, even to the extent of employing the RUC, to ask questions of the person in charge, Mr. Bill Cooper, and of his staff?

I agree that if the 1989 Act is to work properly, confidential information must be kept confidential. I shall raise with the commission the matters that the hon. Gentleman has brought to my attention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the protection of human rights in Northern Ireland.

Human rights are already well protected in Northern Ireland, but we are always willing to consider proposals for strengthening existing safeguards.

Will the incorporation of the international convention on human rights in Northern Ireland legislation appear on the agenda of any of the three parallel discussions that the Minister hopes to have in the autumn?

That is possible, but as no agenda have yet been decided, I cannot guarantee that. The European convention on human rights establishes the right of individual petition, and so on, which the Government accept. Most of the rights that it contains are incorporated in our legislation.

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the most important human right to be protected in Northern Ireland is the right not to be blown up or murdered by IRA terrorists?

I absolutely confirm that. The worst violation of human rights is that done to the victims of terrorists.

Given that for the past 18 years Northern Ireland has been governed and administered entirely by Ministers accountable to this House, what is the need for protecting human rights in Belfast as opposed to Birmingham?

I am not sure of the distinction that the right hon. Gentleman draws. We do our best to legislate to ensure that human rights are protected.

Bearing in mind the fact that the Minister has told the House that human rights are well protected within Northern Ireland, and accepting that the greatest human right to be protected is the right to live, will the Minister tell the House why it is that an increasing number of contractors in my constituency are daily threatened by the IRA, why men are forced into unemployment, why bombs are put under employees' cars, and why people are slaughtered? Is not it time that the Government brought the nightmare of terrorism to an end, so that the people of Ulster can enjoy the right to live?

We fight terrorism in all its forms, and I particularly deplore the terrorism aimed against contractors, to which the hon. Gentleman draws our attention. We are taking every step that we can to bring it to an end.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next intends to meet representatives of the Northern Ireland Association of Community Workshops to discuss provision of community workshops.

I shall meet representatives of the community workshop network at a conference in mid-October.

Is the Minister aware that there is growing concern among community workshop managers that the Government foresee a diminishing role for them in the provision of youth training? Does the Minister agree that there is an increasing need for a more varied and higher-quality provision of youth training? When he next meets representatives of the association, will he take the opportunity to give them a categorical assurance of his commitment to them, and of their positive role in providing training?

I do not have to wait to meet the association; I can give the hon. Gentleman and the community workshop managers that assurance now. Community workshops in Northern Ireland do a very good job, but they have been expensive providers. They have not provided some of the qualifications that we would have looked for in training throughout Northern Ireland and some workshops are more expensive than others. We are looking for value for money, and increased, wider training. To that end, we shall support the workshops in evey way possible. I give the hon. Gentleman that assurance.

I refer to the corporate plan, as proposed by the Minister in the new document. Will he please let us know where the community workshops figure in that plan and whether it will be open for discussion with the community workshops involved?

Anything that we do with community workshops will be open to discussion. They provide training for a little over 2,000 people out of a total of 9,000 on the youth training programme. The key factor is to make certain that when youngsters leave, they have the skills and qualifications that will lead to employment, and we are working together to ensure that community workshops throughout Northern Ireland provide them as effectively and professionally as possible.

The Minister must be aware that morale among community workshop managers is low at the moment, and that there is increasing concern about the application of the new block funding scheme. Will he give an undertaking that, if it becomes apparent during this financial year that the new financial scheme is acting to the disadvantage of community workshops, he will review the scheme at the end of the financial year?

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's understanding of the workshops and his intervention, but I have to say to him that I do not accept that the morale of managers is as he says it is. Nor do I accept that the vast majority of them are not playing the best part that they can to work the new scheme, which will lead to increasing qualifications and skills, and therefore to increased employment. Of course, we shall consider with the managers the level of support that we are giving them, but they will have to ensure that they get as many of their youngsters as possible out into the private sector to be trained and thus earning fees for themselves. That will increase the amount of experience gained by young people, which they need to get jobs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what opportunity there will be for the residents around Strangford Lough in its future management following the declaration of the three areas of specific scientific interest for the lough.

Resident owners and users continue to manage their land.

Is the Minister aware of the concern of many people around Strangford Lough about the declaration of the site of special scientific interest, and the proposals for a marine nature reserve? Does the Minister agree that the people who use the lough, those who farm around it and the residents should be involved in its management? I know that the Minister's officials met the Strangford Lough Nature Conservation Association this morning, but does not he agree that the best prospects for conservation would be to involve the local people? Therefore, will he agree personally to meet that association, which is now supported by more than 300 residents from around Strangford Lough?

There would be much more of a fuss if we had not declared the foreshore to be an area of special scientific interest. If we were not moving towards establishing a marine nature reserve, there would also rightly he a fuss. Most of the concerns are totally misplaced, as I have explained on two occasions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information his Department received concerning obstruction into the process of inquiry into alleged sexual abuse of boys and the Kincora boys home.

I do not believe that any relevant information was withheld from successive inquiries.

What evidence does the Minister have for that opinion? Does he share the disgust of many of us that for some reason the interests of the security forces apparently took precedence over the interests of vulnerable boys in care in a real sense and under the guardianship of the nation?

My opinion comes from my study of the papers on the matter. I would share the concern that the hon. Gentleman expressed if I thought that the facts were as he described them. I do not believe that they were; the RUC had information, but, as Sir George Terry's report explained, that information was acted on not immediately but only some years later.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with the Mayor of Paris, Mr. Jacques Chirac, and this evening I shall preside at a dinner in honour of the Crown Prince of Morocco.

Will the Prime Minister commission an inquiry by the social services inspectorate into establishing the allegations that staff shortages in Wandsworth council resulted in the death of a three-year-old child?

No. Obviously that tragic case affected us all greviously. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, the death of that child occurred in August 1989. The details of the case are being thoroughly looked into. Wandsworth council had already spent a great deal on that case, including at one stage removing that family to another place of residence at the cost of some £15,000. They were moved to a residential home and then back into a council house. Wandsworth has a very good record on social workers, having about 4 per cent. more social workers in relation to its population than other inner London authorities. This is a tragic case. Of course, there has been an inquiry and the recommendations of that inquiry will be accepted.

Is my right hon. Friend at all concerned that on Tuesday the European Court instructed our courts to consider interim relief from sections of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 although the House of Lords decided that it had no powers to do so? Until we accept that European law is supreme over our own law, is not it a dangerous development that the court is effectively taking on the power to suspend sections of laws passed by this Parliament? Will not that open up the possibility and likelihood that groups and individuals will seek relief from laws passed by this Parliament simply by going to the European Court and claiming that they have lost as a consequence of those laws?

I share my hon. Friend's concern about that judgment. As he said, since the European Communities Act 1972, our courts have been obliged to protect rights under Community law, but the European Court has now said that where those rights are impaired by British law, our courts have the power to grant an injunction until the main case is heard. That applies to what my hon. Friend said, although the injunction may affect the operation of an Act of our own Parliament. The European Court has left it to our courts to decide whether or not to exercise that power. The case in question now goes back to our courts to decide whether the power to give interim relief should be used. We shall argue strongly that it should not. Meanwhile, the position on fishing rights remains unchanged. I should point out that the European Court's decision applies to all European countries, not only to the United Kingdom.

Does the Prime Minister agree with the statement that the proposals put forward by the Chancellor last night are

"a very useful intermediate step"

That is not quite what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor said, in a most excellent and constructive speech—[Interruption.]

Order.

—which has been very widely welcomed as building on the present position, going forward in an evolutionary way. We should bear it in mind that many other countries may wish to join the Community, and not make it more difficult for them to do so. The speech does not mean that we approve of a single European currency; it says specifically that we do not. It provides for a common European currency, which each country may use if it wishes to do so. That does not therefore take away from our sovereignty. It provides a way of trying to get inflation down by reference to a hard ecu. I was not quite sure whether the right hon. Gentleman said that he had read the speech or, if he had read it, whether he understood it.

By all means, I have read the speech. I wonder whether the Chancellor explained to the right hon. Lady that if the idea that he put forward were accepted, with the European Monetary Fund and the hard ecu, it would be the final surrender of monetary sovereignty by Britain, as sterling moved into the hard ecu. Does she take that into account in the view that she expresses about what the Chancellor said?

The purpose of that speech, and that proposal, is precisely that we do not surrender control over our monetary policy. Of course, we wish to use monetary policy in a way that gets inflation down, but the proposal does not surrender control over that policy.

I am grateful to the right hon. Lady. These are important matters. Is she saying, in the responses that she has made thus far, that when the Governor of the Bank of England said to the House of Lords yesterday that a European Monetary Fund and a hard ecu would, and I quote him precisely,

"be a very useful intermediate step between the … existing EC currencies and a single EC currency"

I suggest that the right hon. Gentleman reads more carefully the speech of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor, which proposes building on the existing ecu—the City has already issued securities denominated in ecu—to have a hard ecu, which could become a common European currency available for countries to use if they so choose. It retains the choice and it retains sterling.

We now come to Question 3.

Order.

Order. It is all right. I shall come back to Question 2.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June:

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

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the 11 years of her leadership the economy in Scotland has been transformed into a dynamic, vibrant and modern economy? Will she confirm that she has no plans to introduce an assembly Act, which would give Scotland an assembly in Edinburgh with tax-raising powers and which would place in jeopardy that modern, vibrant economy?

I agree with my hon. Friend. Scotland is doing better than ever before because of this Government's policies, which Scotland has taken to very well indeed and is using profitably to her own advantage.

To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to visit the north-east of Scotland.

I hope to visit the north-east of Scotland later this year.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the Speedlink rail freight service that serves the north-east of Scotland faces closure because of her plans to sell off parts of British Rail? Is she further aware that such a closure would lead to 100,000 tonnes of timber being moved from rail to road, which would create an additional 18,000 lorry movements every year on Scotland's already overcrowded roads? Given that such a development makes no economic sense, does the Prime Minister accept that the price to be paid by the rest of us for her personal obsession with privatisation is too high and that she should instruct British Rail to retain the existing Speedlink service?

Some of us think when we visit Scotland and travel on her roads that they are very much better than the roads down south, and not nearly so crowded. Scotland has had an enormous amount of money spent on her roads. Current investment levels in British Rail are the highest, in real terms, for a quarter of a century, with £3·7 billion to be invested over the next three years.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

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

Does the Prime Minister share the widely felt concern about human rights in Romania? Does she agree that neither Britain nor the EEC should extend further assistance to Romania in the present circumstances, except of a purely humanitarian kind?

I share my hon. Friend's concern. After all that the Romanian people have been through, we were absolutely horrified to see on television a repetition of previous scenes and the violence being used by the miners. We were also very much concerned about the fate of some of the demonstrators who were arrested. We have invoked the Helsinki agreement to seek information from the Romanian Government about their fate. In the meantime, the European Community is quite right to refuse to sign a trade and co-operation agreement with Romania. Romania will not be invited to the ministerial meeting of the Group of 24 on 4 July to discuss aid to eastern Europe. We think that that is a proper response to the scenes that we saw and witnessed on television.

Does the Prime Minister realise that, whatever the flaws—I suspect that they will be fatal—in the Chancellor's new proposals for competing currencies, it is nevertheless very welcome that her Cabinet colleagues, or at least some of them, have managed to lever her forward an inch or two on Europe? The Prime Minister has said that this is an evolutionary approach, An evolutionary approach must have an objective, Will the Prime Minister repeat to the House what she has said before: that she does not believe that Britain should, or will in her lifetime, join a single European currency or a central European bank?

I think that the proposals outlined by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer are the right way ahead: to build on the existing ecu. We have issued securities denominated in ecu. It meets the wish of many people to have a common currency. That is quite different from a single currency. The common currency would be the new ecu. It means that those who wish to use the new ecu in place of their own currency may do so. I do not believe that we shall. It also provides protection against inflation, Furthermore, it would not be an impediment to many east European countries that may wish to join us later, If, however, we tied ourselves up too closely and relinquished our monetary powers to a central authority, they would not wish to join; nor should we wish to relinquish the powers of this House.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

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

Does my right hon. Friend agree that regional airports play a crucial role in stimulating growth in the areas that they serve? Will she therefore join me in expressing astonishment at the crass, blinkered and short-sighted attitude shown by the Labour-controlled Ipswich borough council, which is intent on closing down Ipswich airport even though no suitable alternative site has yet been found?

Yes, the Government wish to see the maximum use of airports in the regions, to meet as much local demand as they can attract, Since 1981 we have given borrowing approval for more than £287 million—[Interruption.]

Order, The Prime Minister.

We have given borrowing approval totalling over £287 million for the development of local authority airports and I hope that a new site can be found quickly for the airport to which my hon. Friend referred, I understand that discussions have already taken place between Suffolk county council and the Ministry of Defence—[Interruption.] Clearly Opposition Members are not in the least bit interested in the new airport for Ipswich—[Interruption.]

Order, This is taking up a lot of time and the Prime Minister is trying to answer the question.

The Opposition are not interested, Mr. Speaker. Discussions have already taken place between Suffolk county council and the Ministry of Defence about the possible use of RAF Wattisham. We are interested in regional airports, but the Opposition are not.