HC Deb 02 August 1966 vol 733 cc241-2
34. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Government are proposing to introduce an autumn Budget.

Mr. Callaghan

No, Sir. I shall continue to watch the movement of the economy and be ready to take any measures which the situation demands.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

As we have now had five Budgets and mini-Budgets in 21 months, one every four months, would it not be bang on target if the Government produced another Budget in November? Should not the Chancellor have an autumn Budget in order to clear up the mess of the present Budget?

Mr. Callaghan

I hope that the hon. Member will now proclaim that the measures which are likely to carry us into surplus in 1967 are such as should command the support of everybody in this country and outside it.

Mr. Dickens

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us on this side of the House would welcome an autumn Budget designed- among other things to secure an element of income redistribution? Is he further aware that a policy designed to secure income redistribution would gather much more support for an incomes standstill?

Mr. Callaghan

I am all in favour of greater productivity, but perhaps not in the direction of further Budgets. As to the measures which have been taken to ensure that a prices and incomes policy is successful, I can think of at least four basic measures which have been taken during the last 21 months which have had a substantial effect on the redistribution of income.