HC Deb 25 June 1941 vol 372 cc1045-6
45. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Prime Minister whether he will find time for a Debate on the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for Evesham relating to supplies and wages?

[That this House, noticing the Government's new restrictions on the consumption of clothing, and accepting this as a war time necessity for the purpose of ensuring the maximum of war material being provided, is disturbed' over the Government's attitude in allowing wages to be increased thereby distributing more purchasing power, which conflicts with its attitude in the reduction of purchaseable goods, emphasises that this policy is one of definite inflation, and that the policy of the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Labour are inconsistent; recalls the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement in his Budget speech in which he stated his intention to stabilise the cost of living out of the national revenues, and his expressed hope that wages would be stabilised; notes that his hopes have not been fulfilled and' that daily increases in wages are taking place without any Treasury intervention, and that, in view of the fact that the Government now buys over 60 per cent. of the total national production, they are the chief sufferers from the price increases due to wage increases; further notes the Government's proposal to protect the private consumer from paying equivalent prices by means of subsidies; and urges on the Government the necessity for bringing the policy of the Minister of Labour, the President of the Board of Trade, the Minister of Supply and' the Chancellor of the Exchequer into line by the substitution of one comprehensive and consistent policy for the welfare of the country during the period of hostilities.]

The Prime Minister

I regret that I can hold out no hope of a special opportunity being found for discussion of the Motion standing in the name of my hon. Friend.

Mr. De la Bère

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if two Departments are to treat the matter in this way the result must be completely fallacious, and will he urge upon the Departments the necessity of co-ordination and the impossibility of separating the two questions?

The Prime Minister

Those principles are so well understood that they need no further inculcation.

Mr. De la Bère

But the old policy still goes on.