§ Q4. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the text of his ministerial broadcast of Sunday, 27th February.
§ Q12. Mr. Carterasked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a transcript of his ministerial broadcast made on 27th February.
§ Q14. Mr. William Priceasked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a transcript of his ministerial broadcast on 27th February.
§ Q15. Mr. John Fraserasked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the text of his ministerial broadcast of 27th February. 1972.
§ Q20. Mr. Strangasked the Prime Minister if he will place a copy of the text of his ministerial broadcast on Sunday, 27th February, 1972, in the Library.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I indicated in the reply I gave last Friday to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow), I did so on 28th February.—[Vol. 832, c. 403.]
§ Mr. DalyellIn that broadcast the other night the Prime Minister told the country that the fight against rising prices must be fought with no holds barred. What in concrete terms does "no holds barred" mean?
§ The Prime MinisterIt means taking the measures that we have been taking—for example, by bringing about the biggest reduction of purchase tax since the war, by halving S.E.T., and by the specific produce reductions which were announced by my right hon. Friend the 295 Minister of Agriculture last week. That is real action to keep down prices.
§ Mr. CarterIn that broadcast the Prime Minister equated a defeat for the Government with a defeat for the country. Is he not aware that that is arrogant nonsense, and that at present a defeat for the Government on a whole range of contentious issues before Parliament would be regarded as a victory for the country?
§ The Prime MinisterWhat my speech said was that if the country wants to keep down prices, as it does—and presumably the Opposition agree with that desire—the means to do it is to keep wage claims from being excessive; in other words, not to have increased wages without increased productivity. That policy will keep prices where they are, and if that policy is defeated it will be a defeat for the country's wishes. That still remains the case.
§ Mr. William PriceIs the Prime Minister prepared to accept the blame for anything?
§ The Prime MinisterI have never at any time hesitated to accept responsibility for what I have to do and for what the Government as a whole have done. I am sure that in the various decisions I have taken during my time in Parliament the House has respected the fact that I have done what I believe to be right.
§ Mr. J. Selwyn GummerWill my right hon. Friend say whether, since his broadcast, he has received from the Leader of the Opposition a list of those groups of workers who voluntarily wish to put in decreased wage demands to pay for any special cases that arise?
§ The Prime MinisterIn all fairness, I do not believe that it lies within the power of the Opposition to do such a thing. The right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition was unable to do so when he was Prime Minister, and certainly cannot take such action now that he is Leader of the Opposition.
§ Mr. John FraserIn that broadcast the Prime Minister spoke about higher prices leading to higher wages without anybody being better off. Why did he not tell the country that in steamrolling through the Housing Finance Bill he will 296 double the rents of council tenants by 1975 and will treble the rents of a million statutory tenants? Why did he not say that his policy would have such an effect on wages, prices and the general cost of living?
§ The Prime MinisterI did not tell the country that because it is not true. What I have told the country, and what the House knows perfectly well, is what the rent rebate system will mean to those in private tenancies—[Hon. Members: "Oh!"] I do not see why the Opposition should be so critical of help being given to lower-paid workers who occupy private tenancies in obtaining rent rebates. These policies will help the lower-paid, and therefore they should be supported.
§ Mr. OnslowIs my right hon. Friend aware that there was a particular welcome for his comments in the broadcast about the current challenge to democratic authority inside and outside Parliament? In view of recent events in this Chamber, will he ask his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House to make time available for somebody to say where the Labour Party stands on this issue?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not want to enter into current controversies on happenings in this House. I would only say that last night the House took a decision, and the country will be able from that to judge the views of all those who took part in that matter. In regard to my telecast, I believe that the country as a whole has expressed anxiety about some aspects of picketing during the recent miners' strike. It was absolutely right that my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General last Friday should have made the situation quite clear. [Interruption.] If hon. Gentlemen below the gangway are not anxious about the abuse of picketing, then in the interests of their own unions they ought to be.
§ Mr. SpriggsIs the Prime Minister aware that the Second Church Commissioner told us yesterday that the reason for prices increasing by 100 per cent. was the reduced value of money? Does the Prime Minister support that point of view?
§ The Prime MinisterI thank the hon. Gentleman for reminding me of that point. I was here yesterday and heard the Question that he put to my hon. 297 Friend the Second Church Commissioner. I recognise fully what my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hertford shire, East (Sir D. Walker-Smith) described as the increase in the cost of dying.
§ Mr. LaneIf my right hon. Friend is considering television Press conferences, in addition to broadcast speeches and Press briefings, will he bear in mind that many people will welcome this as an extra channel of communication with the public?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is nothing new about it. I did this last July when we were discussing the European question as part of the great debate in which the nation was taking part at that time—[An Hon. Member: "What is the latest verdict?"] As the hon. Gentleman knows, I never refer to public opinion polls. It is therefore that which prevents me pointing out that today's Gallup Poll shows that more than 50 per cent. of the people want our membership of the Communities to go ahead.
§ Mr. OrmeIs the Prime Minister aware, in regard to wages, which was one of the major themes of his broadcast, that he has not made out the case either to this House or to the nation that high wages are the cause of the difficulties and problems facing the country? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, on the contrary, in many industries it is low wages which are the problem? What we want is high wages and low unit costs. The attitude of the right hon. Gentleman's Government over the miners' strike has made it difficult for the country. Why does not the Prime Minister admit it?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman accuses me of not having made out the case. I forebear to refer to this afternoon's public opinion poll, which shows that two out of three people believe that the Government are right to try to prevent excessive wage increases. The case will never be made out to the satisfaction of the hon. Member for Salford, West (Mr. Orme). However, the last part of his supplementary question is the key to everything. One wants high wages with high productivity. Therefore, what is important is the speed at which one 298 moves towards that. If wages outpace productivity, one cannot have a healthy and sound economy. I am with the hon. Gentleman in wanting to see a move towards high wages with greater productivity. If he will back an economic policy which says "Very well. Let us improve the lot of the lower-paid wage earner, but we recognise that we cannot at the same time keep all the differentials which have existed in the past", that will begin to make sense—but I have never known the hon. Gentleman be prepared to do that.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Mr. Carter.