§ 47. Mr. Osborneasked the Lord President of the Council, in view of the desperate economic position of the country, what steps the Government propose to try next to improve it.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI cannot accept the suggestion that the economic position of 678 the country gives cause for despair, and I deprecate the defeatist attitude which seems to underlie the hon. Member's Question. I have every confidence in the capacity of the British people to surmount the difficulties which are facing them in common with most other countries.
§ Mr. OsborneMay I first congratulate the Leader of the House on the colour of his tie—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. BeswickOn a point of Order. Is it in Order for the hon. Gentleman to refer to my right hon. Friend's tie?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sorry, but I did not hear what the hon. Member said.
§ Mr. OsborneMay I ask the Leader of the House how he can reconcile the answer he has just given with the statement made a few days ago by the Paymaster-General that we were in an "economic jam," and that, if the export drive failed, rations would have to be cut by half? Who is speaking the truth?
§ Mr. MorrisonIt is not for me to arbitrate between myself and the Paymaster-General, but my hon. Friend tells me that, if his speech had been more amply reported, another impression would have been given.
§ Mrs. Jean MannDoes not my right hon Friend agree that there is still something that could be done to increase production, and that there are a great many people drawing unearned incomes who never worked in their lives and who have no intention of working? Does he not think that it is time that a group of people drawing unearned incomes, who are mostly neurotics, should not only be cured of their neurasthenia, but should be made to help towards the recovery of the country by being forced into productive effort?
§ Mr. SpeakerIf we pursue that matter further, we shall be getting very wide of the Question.