Any questions for Peter Lilley?

This morning the Globalisation and Global Poverty Policy Group has published its final report. Its Chairman, Peter Lilley, has agree to answer any questions you have.

Peter has been a Member of Parliament since 1983. His first ministerial appointment was as Economic Secretary to the Treasury (June 1987), then Financial Secretary to the Treasury (July 1989). He was then appointed Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by Margaret Thatcher in 1990 and in 1992 John Major made him Secretary of State for Social Security. After the 1997 election William Hague appointed him Shadow Chancellor in June 1997, and subsequently he was Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party.

If you have any questions for Peter Lilley please leave them in the thread below.

Comments

[Mark Wallace]

There has been a lot of discussion recently about how to modernise how traditional issues are discussed. A crucial criticism of the EU is that its protectionist policies are not only damaging the UK economy but are also impoverishing millions around the world. It is inconceivable that France, for example, will agree to trade liberalisation, so wouldn't it be best for Britain's economy and the world's poor for the UK to leave the EU and pursue free trade policies?

[Treacle]

Our Army is undermanned, run down and being hung out to dry in Iraq.

Our navy is sailing at half-speed due to fuel rationing.

Our Aircraft carriers have not been ordered and there are no planes currently in the Fleet Air Arm anyway.

Our Liberties are being eroded by the EU and by our own government.

Our taxes are too high.

The state is too big.

We are force-fed drivel about the environment morning, noon and night.

Our cities are full of illegal immigrants and our streets are not safe.

Half our children cannot read as well as their grandparents.

Half the country cannot work out what one eighth of 32 is

Elderly people are effectively condenmed to to death if sent to our filthy disease-ridden hospitals.

Our electoral system is being debased and corrupted.

Muslim terrorists roam our Country whilst British citizens are told to mind their P & Q's

Forgive me if the only question I can think of is:

'Why the hell are we wasting our time on being missionaries to the world while our own fellow citizens are left to rot?"

[Jonathan Sheppard]

Having been Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and also Social Security you will know all too well how the Post Office relied on benefit payments being paid through the network of Post Office Counters.

Do you think in 2007 the Post Office network has a viable future and should a future Conservative Government commit to keeping open a minimum number of branches, as their is a view they play a social as well as commercial role in society.

[sjm]

Treacle - Bravo!

[Tony Makara]

Mr Lilley. What are your views on the rapid economic expansion of China? In particular the way that China is consciously trying to dominate world export markets. Do you feel that there is a danger that over time we may become dependent on Chinese manufacturing?

[RB]

Do you believe there should be a stop to health workers being poached from Africa to work in the NHS?

[Chris]

Can you name a country that has been truely lifted out of poverty by aid?

[People say Europe after WW2...but these countries already had working legal systems, rule of law, enforsable property rights, low-ish corruption etc so I do not accept these countries really being impoverished to the same extent as much of Africa]

[chris]

Would our aid budget be better spent paying the Europe's trade tarrifs ourselves , on behalf of African exporters, shaming our European partners into giving them up in the process?

[601]

If we stop taking doctors from developing countries, wouldn't they just go to other developed countries like the U.S?

[Anne-Marie]

Treacle - You soooooooooooooooooooooo read the Daily Mail don't you?

[dbiter@googlemail.com]

On the basis that back in 2002 Peter "right on" Lilley was advocating the legalisation of cannabis - now thought to be a fairly hideous drug that can bring on schizophrenia and which is likely to be taken back up a class by Gordon - is there any point in taking the man seriously?

[Treacle]

Sooooooooo impressed you can post to this thread whilst digging holes in Rwanda

give my love to Dave

[Frustrated Nick]

Peter

As a passionate Tory, I have been reading Alistair Campbell's diary to see if we can learn any lessons with regards to getting back into Govt.

One thing is starkly apparent- our total, utter lack of hunger and passion in terms of showing the country we really "want it" in comparison with Labour from 94-97.

Too many of our top people look distracted, amateurish or just "playing at it".

They should quickly shape up, or ship out.
Would you agree ?

[Yogi]

Peter,
Having scanned through the first hundred pages of a 429 page report, I am beginning to think 'what is the point of the Conservative party?' If we are to spend 0.7% of our GDP on Foreign Aid, thats fine and yes we should target it. However, isn't it the stated aim of the EU to collect all aid from member state and then disburse it through another layer of bureaucracy in Brussels?
Frankly, the Conservative front bench seems to have lost the plot.
Let us first fix our own educational system and increase funding to SCience and Technology by shutting down some of the soft course Unis which are just polytechnics except in name.
Cut the taxes and let the voluntary sector which is better equipped (and less bureaucratic) to disburse the aid.
Propose remedies for the law and Order and Terrorism issues before Brown takes over.
I am becoming totally disillusioned with our front bench and beginning to think that the Conservative Party is being infiltrated by leftie liberals.

[Guy Moore]

Are these endless rounds of policy groups really helpful or should we be developing positions through the conviction of our leadership first? Shouldn't we be driven by the convictions of our leader whenever possible?

[johnC]

From the summary I have read, your report seems to support one-sided trade liberalisation for developing countries: the EU etc have to open their markets, but developing countries can be 'flexible' in deciding whether to do so themselves. How as a free market Thatcherite can you justify this ? Doesn't protectionism merely prolong inefficiency and lack of competitiveness and impede economic progress ?

[Peter Kingsman]

Peter, at the moment British farmers have to produce food meeting health, hygiene and animal welfare standards that imported, cheaper, food does not. Should we require all imported food (and its ingredients) to meet the standards required of domestically produced food or should we lower the standards for domestically produced food?

[Constance Harper]

One of the biggest problems facing Africa is the lack of transport infrastructure. Given the corruption that is endemic in many African countries how could we support major infrastructure projects that are and are seen to be for the benefir of Africa and not the west?

[Screenburn]

What special responsibility does the UK have to its former colonies?

[KT Eden]

How can we encourage individuals to give more to projects in developing countries?

[Stephen Parry]

Your report rightly highlights the huge number work permits given to teaching and medical professionals from developing countries where they are in demand. How do we, as Conservatives, reverse this trend and avoid allegations of racism?

[Bradford Lad]

Mr Lilley:
Can you explain to us why David Cameron makes such a deliberate attempt to avoid tackling the question of immigration threats to this country - both excessive legal and illegal immigration?
We have all this political posturing and comment about wanting to take up the concerns of the British people. Immigration is of very real concern and a high priority one!
It is one of a few which could bring Cameron down.

[Ferdinand]

Dear Mr.Lilley,
All progress in the developed world has commenced with the availability of abundant energy. If Kyoto is followed the poorest nations will be denied the opportunity to develop their economies. Now that the majority of scientists - latest estimate is over 60% - do not accept that anthropogenic CO2 is causing global warming, when are the Conservatives going firmly to denounce cap and trade and Kyoto so that these poor nations can set about developing industrial activities ?