HC Deb 20 March 1958 vol 584 cc1427-9
50. Mr. Jay

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech of the Lord Privy Seal at the Central Council of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations on 14th March regarding economic policy represents the policy of the Government.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend was describing in the course of a speech on civil liberty, the Government's record in sweeping away the war-time emergency powers bequeathed to us by the Socialist Government, and their intention to proceed with the process.

Mr. Jay

Was the Lord Privy Seal correctly or incorrectly reported in The Times as having said that the Government proposed before the end of this Parliament to remove all the economic controls which remain, and does that mean, for instance, that exchange control and import quotas for dollar goods are to be removed?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. I think the right hon. Gentleman has drawn the wrong deduction. What I think my right hon. Friend said was that we will proceed with this process, and that those temporary powers which are necessary as a permanent feature of our government will be enshrined in permanent legislation, instead of relying upon temporary powers taken under war-time Acts. That process, I think, is already operating in regard to the Bill dealing with land powers, and the same will apply to economic controls.

Mr. Jay

Can the Prime Minister confirm that the Lord Privy Seal did not say, as reported in The Times, that all the economic controls that remain will be removed?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. He said that the economic controls which—and this was the whole context of the speech—depend on temporary powers taken during the war ought to be removed, as I understood his argument. It is perfectly clear in the context of the speech, and I have the whole speech here if the right hon. Gentleman wishes to read it again. It is quite clear, and it is also, in fact, what we are doing.

Mr. H. Morrison

Are we to take it, from what the Prime Minister has said, that while the war-time Statutes will be repealed, they will be substituted by new Statutes which will enable the Government to make regulations for economic purposes; or is it proposed to leave a Government without any power to make regulations for economic purposes, which might be very damaging to the public interest?

The Prime Minister

Of course, that will be seen as the Bills proceed, but we have a very good example in what we have done. We have got rid of a great number of these controls, and I think that everyone—except the most extreme authoritarians—is glad about it. In the Land Powers (Defence) Bill now before Parliament there is a very good example. Those powers relating to land which depend on Defence Regulations, and which are thought to be absolutely vital for a Government to have, will be enshrined in permanent legislation.

Mr. Gaitskell

Can we have a definite assurance from the Prime Minister that the foreign exchange control and the power to restrict imports of dollar goods will remain?

The Prime Minister

When it comes to dealing with these matters, they will be dealt with in a manner analogous to that of the land control.

Mr. H. Morrison

The Prime Minister has not answered my question. It was whether, when this war-time legislation is repealed—if and when that is done—there will be brought in at the same time legislation that will enable the Government to make regulations for necessary economic purposes in the public interest? Can he tell us whether that is the intention?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir, although there might be—one has to face the realities of life—a difference of opinion as to what is necessary.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the country would greatly welcome the abolition of exchange control as being one of the best means of ensuring that Socialism cannot be resurrected?