§ Q1. Mr. Whitakerasked the Prime Minister whether he will now appoint a Cabinet Minister to be responsible for the overall co-ordination of the effects of 249 social welfare and fiscal policies, following his further consideration of the problems of the families of lower-paid workers.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. George Brown)I have been asked to reply.
I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 9th February, 1967, to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) and Meriden (Mr. Rowland) and the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Kenneth Lewis).—[Vol. 740, c. 1821.]
§ Mr. WhitakerNevertheless, at a time when we are all agreed that the social services need more money, how can it be either economic or social sense for the Exchequer to be giving the largest housing and educational subsidies in tax rebates to the wealthiest people?
§ Mr. BrownIn the earlier Answer to which I referred, my right hon. Friend made it clear that we would be presenting to the House, certainly by the summer, the Government's plans for assistance to families dependent upon lower-paid workers. That will, therefore, fit in with what we are now doing.
§ Mr. HeathCan the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that, whatever plans are introduced, the lower-paid workers will not have to wait until next April before they get any of the benefits which the Government propose?
§ Mr. BrownI do not think that that arises out of the Question on the Order Paper. If the right hon. Gentleman can arrange for the appropriate Question to be put down, we will see what we can do with it.