HC Deb 03 March 1964 vol 690 cc1124-5
Ql. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer at Leeds on 24th January about economic matters represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The Prime Minister (Sir Alec Douglas-Home)

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Wyatt

Does the Prime Minister realise that that madly optismistic speech was made before the Bank Rate went up and before the publication of the bad trade figures for January? Is he not aware that we are now fast running into a balance of payments crisis which is particularly illustrated by the fact that a large part of our imports in January was due not to stocking up, but to finished manufactured goods? Will he say whether the Government have started conversations with the International Monetary Fund and the European central banks with a view to protecting our reserves before it is too late, in view of the balance of payments crisis which we are running into?.

The Prime Minister

The hon. Member would be wise to await the February figures.

Mr. Callaghan

How does the Prime Minister reconcile that speech with what he said last night advising young people to jump on the Tory bandwagon? Can he explain how a free-for-all will assist us to recruit the nurses and the teachers and the postmen, and how an incomes policy fits into the Tory concept of a free-for-all? When he spoke of the congestion in the South and overcrowding and land shortage, did he ask his script writer who had been in power for the last 12 years?

The Prime Minister

The last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question has nothing to do with the original Question. I do not know that any member of the Government, certainly not the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has ever talked about a Tory free-for-all. [Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman asked a question and he must listen to the answer. The whole theme of my speech last night was that we were going ahead with a steady and controlled expansion. I must add that if it were a choice between a free-for-all and controls for all, I would choose the first.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Is my right hon. Friend aware that not many young people will be tempted to jump on the one-man bandwagon?

Mr. M. Stewart

When the Prime Minister used the phrase "controlled expansion", did that apply to rents and land prices, about which we heard earlier this afternoon?

The Prime Minister

The Question has nothing to do with rents or land.