§ 7. Mr. Peytonasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs on what grounds the National Economic Development Council, according to his paper on planning, came to the conclusion that though the 25 per cent. growth over five years could not be 1674 realised, exercises based on such estimates had become no less relevant and were indeed more important than ever.
§ Mr. M. StewartThe paper does not attribute such a view to the Council.
§ Mr. PeytonI hope that the right hon. Gentleman will accept my apologies that I should have read such a meaning into the paper, but is he aware that it is so obscure and so full of aerated piffle that it is exceedingly difficult to understand what it does mean? What is the point of carrying out one of these exercises based on an invalid premise?
§ Mr. StewartThe paper is not difficult, although the hon. Gentleman may find it so. The point at issue now is quite a simple one. The paper points out that there are certain courses of action—those, for example, mentioned in the check list to the National Plan—which are at least as relevant and important now, despite the fact that the numerical projections have to be revised.