§ Q3. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Prime Minister if he will co-ordinate the activities of the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity and the President of the Board of Trade in their efforts to improve industrial efficiency.
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friends already work closely together on this, as on other matters, Sir.
§ Mrs. ShortBut does not my right hon. Friend think that it is rather odd that one Minister should employ a gentleman from Rootes to set up a department to advise on productivity, while the President of the Board of Trade is able to find half a million pounds for grants to small firms in Bristol and Glasgow to enable them to get advice from private firms about industrial efficiency? Why cannot Mr. Cattell's department advise firms in Bristol and Glasgow?
§ The Prime MinisterBoth these proposals are extremely important and are right. In the case of the gentleman previously employed by Rootes, my hon. Friend will know of the highly successful productivity agreement worked out at Rootes. We want to see more of them since this is the best way of dealing with prices, incomes and productivity. But there are small firms which could benefit from industrial consultants' advice, and we are trying this pilot scheme in the Glasgow and Bristol areas.
§ Sir T. BeamishWhat is the point of improving industrial efficiency when both employment and exports can so easily be affected when gratuitous insults are offered to friendly Governments?
§ The Prime MinisterI thought that that matter was fully and satisfactorily dealt with by my right hon. Friend yester- 1688 day. Obviously, it was not to the satisfaction of the hon. Gentleman, but that is a compliment to some of us.