§ 52. Mr. Woodburnasked the Prime Minister what steps the Government propose to take towards the realisation of his policy of making the workers shareholders in industry.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government are glad to see the development of schemes of co-partnership and profit sharing. As has been stated, the adoption of such schemes is essentially a matter for industry. Opportunity will be taken, whether in the course of the debate on the Address or on later occasions, to give indications of the extent to which Her Majesty's Government can help.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I listened to his last broadcast during the Election? I gathered the impression that the right hon. Gentleman had some Government policy about this matter, and I hoped that he would be able to make a pronouncement, because what he has said just now has been the common policy of all Governments for about 100 years—that industry could do this if it liked—but he announced it as Government policy on the eve of the Election. Perhaps he could explain what he meant.
§ The Prime MinisterI am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for the compliment he paid me in the first part of his supplementary question. As regards the second part, I am equally glad if we may understand that we have the support of the party opposite in any proposals which we may from time to time find it helpful to put forward to assist industry in schemes of co-partnership.