§ 28. Mr. Biffenasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what proposals he now has to amend the Prices and Incomes Act to limit and ultimately terminate Government control over individual prices and incomes.
§ 29. Mr. Winnickasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will now make a statement on the Government's policy for incomes and prices after the period of severe restraint.
§ 31. Mr. Deanasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he proposes to remove the restraint on the payment of increases in occupational pensions.
§ 33. Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government now have for a prices and incomes policy.
36. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will now state the Government's policy on prices and incomes after the period of severe restraint.
§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Frederick Lee)My right hon. Friend will be making a statement about future prices and incomes policy before the Easter Recess.
§ Mr. BiffenSince the House will not have been consulted, unlike the C.B.I. and the TALC., before his right hon. Friend makes the statement, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the widespread and growing desire I suspect on both sides of the House, to see Part II of the Prices and Incomes Act repudiated?
§ Mr. LeeThe Government will also be publishing a White Paper, and when that has been laid the House will know 703 what the opinions of the Government are, and will probably debate the matter.
§ Mr. WinnickIs the Minister aware that after the reports in the morning papers many Labour M.P.s and trade unionists are very concerned about what is likely to appear in this White Paper? Is he further aware that the Prices and Incomes Report on the drapery workers seems to be somewhat remote and arrogant in tone as applied to this section of lower-paid workers?
§ Mr. WinnickOn a point of order. As I have been a trade unionist for many years and an active trade unionist at that.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a point of order. Mr. Lee.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We are wasting Question Time.
§ Mr. LeeProbably it would be better if the House waited until it saw the contents of the White Paper before commenting upon it.
§ Mr. DeanDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise, referring to Question No. 31, that many people who have had their occupational pensions frozen regard the Government's attitude as extremely mean? Can he give an assurance that increases in occupational pensions will be allowed at a very early date?
§ Mr. LeeIt would have been quite unfair to have allowed pensioners, who are getting far more than some wage earners, to be immune from this. Those with small incomes were not affected.
Mr. Edward M. TaylorIs the Minister aware that the longer that we retain the artificial or legal restraints on prices and incomes, the more difficult it will be to get rid of them? Is it the Government's intention ever to restore to the trade unions their full rights of free collective bargaining?
§ Mr. LeeIn the discussions that we have had with the C.B.I. and T.U.C., we 704 have made it abundantly clear that we want to return to a voluntary system. There is nothing between us on that point. The period in question is the next 12 months, and that is the period to which the White Paper refers.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAs a fully paid-Up track unionist—[HON. MEMBERS: "Which union?"]—the N.U.J.—may I ask the Minister whether this statement will be only on criteria, or whether it will include the Government's proposals for future legislation?
§ Mr. LeeThe statement will be on criteria. We hope shortly after Easter to be able to make another, on powers and matters relating to them.