§ 48. Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that far-reaching taxation and other legislative proposals introduced in recent years and months by His Majesty's Government and subsequently withdrawn in deference to the sense of the House, have resulted in dislocation in the branches of industry affected; and whether he will issue instructions to all Ministers in charge of Departments that before submitting legislative proposals to the House every effort should be made to appraise the repercussions of those proposals?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not accept the implication in the hon. Member's question. Every effort is made to preserve a proper balance between the desirability of consulting the interests mainly affected by new proposals and the wider interests of the nation at large which it is the special function of the House to represent.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIf the right hon. Gentleman does not accept the implication in the question, can he explain why it is that on so many occasions Ministers have completely failed to weigh in advance the opinion of the House of Commons, and does he not recognise that that is a rather important qualification for office which is not atoned for by yielding some time after proposals are introduced?
§ The Prime MinisterI think the House is aware that in the case of proposals which are brought forward in the Budget it is not possible to consult interests beforehand.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIf it is not possible to consult interests beforehand, will the right hon. Gentleman entrust office to people who are able to weigh opinion in advance?