HC Deb 26 July 1966 vol 732 cc1431-2
39. Sir C. Osborne

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the assurances which have been given by and on behalf of Her Majesty's Government of their intention to restrict internal demand; to whom, and on what dates such assurances have been given; what relations these assurances bear to the international monetary transactions of this country; and if he will make a statement.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. John Diamond)

No such assurances have been asked for and none has been given.

Sir C. Osborne

Is the Minister aware that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Cousins), in his letter of resignation to the Prime Minister, said categorically that these assurances have been given? He was speaking as a member of the Cabinet. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister in his reply to that letter never refuted the allegations? Can we have the truth?

Mr. Diamond

I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman asked me that question. I have already answered it. No such assurances have been asked for and none has been given. Ministers are not in the habit of giving information which is not the truth.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Would the Chief Secretary say whether he is restricting internal demand in the road programme when the Minister of Transport said only last Friday at the Severn Bridge that there would be no cuts in the road programme?

Mr. Diamond

That is an entirely different question which ought to be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Would the Chief Secretary acknowledge that the words used by my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) are a direct quotation from the resignation letter of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Nuneaton? Was the right hon. Gentleman telling an untruth?

Mr. Diamond

The right hon. Gentleman knows that I am not responsible for what anyone else says. I have not got the letter here and I was not asked about it. It is an entirely different matter. I was asked a Question and I have given a very full, accurate and truthful Answer.