§ Motion made, and Question proposed,
That the Prices and Incomes (General Considerations) Order 1968 (S.I., 1968, No. 616), dated 16th April 1968, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22nd April, be withdrawn.—[Mr. Iain Macleod.]
§ 10.13 p.m.
§ Mr. Edward Heath (Bexley)On Monday evening I raised the question of the right of the Opposition to be able to have a Division and reach a decision on this Order. The Leader of the House very kindly said that he would consider the point, which applies when a Prayer is debated, or, alternatively, when we debate a Motion in lieu of a Prayer to meet the convenience of the Government.
I thank the Leader of the House in his absence for so ordering the business that we may reach a decision on this Prayer, or on the debate that has been taken in its place. I hope that the House will now be prepared to take a decision on the Order.
§ Mr. Eric S. Heffer (Liverpool, Walton)On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, we are about to take a decision on this Order. As a national bus strike is pending, and as I understand from the tapes that my right hon. Friend is to present an Order to the House tomorrow, may I ask whether we are likely to get a statement tomorrow morning from the Government about the position? I think that if we are given an assurance that a statement will be made tomorrow, there will be no question of debating the Order.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is a most ingenious point of order. I share the hon. Member's anxiety about the matter he has raised, but we are discussing an Order.
§ 10.15 p.m.
§ Mr. Michael Foot (Ebbw Vale)On the Motion before the House, I wish to put to the Government the question which my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer) sought to put as a point of order. I appreciate the reason why it was not possible for the Government to respond to this invitation on the point of order, but we should like the Government to make a statement on the Motion because we have a right to be assured before the House departs that there will be a statement tomorrow. Hon. Members may interject to say that that would not be in order, but I would have thought that the question whether we were to have further discussions about the operation of this Order arises under this proposal. Therefore, all that I ask—and the House has a right to it—is that on a matter of such national importance as a pending bus strike, and when the House is taking time to reconsider an Order which would govern the affairs of that bus strike, if it were to occur, it would be for the convenience of the House and the assurance of the country if the Government would assure us, before we accept the Motion, that there will be a statement in the House tomorrow.
§ 10.17 p.m.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)I think that the House understands the concern which has been expressed by my hon. Friend. There is an extremely serious situation in relation to the position in the bus industry. I have noted what my hon. Friends have said. I cannot undertake that my right hon. Friend the First Secretary will be personally present tomorrow, but I can undertake that a statement will be made in the House tomorrow morning on that question. I give that assurance, and I hope that the House can now proceed to a decision.
§ Question put:—
| Division No. 290.] | AYES | [10.18 p.m. |
| Allson, Michael (Barkston Ash) | Giles, Rear-Adm, Morgan | Morgan, Geraint (Denbigh) |
| Allason, James (Hemel Hempstead) | Gilmour, Ian (Norfolk, C.) | Morrison, Charles (Devizes) |
| Astor, John | Gilmour, Sir John (Fife, E.) | Mott-Radclyffe, Sir Charles |
| Atkins, Humphrey (M't'n & M'd'n) | Glover, Sir Douglas | Munro-Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh |
| Awdry, Daniel | Godber, Rt. Hn. J. B. | Murton, Oscar |
| Baker, Kenneth (Acton) | Goodhart, Philip | Nabarro, Sir Gerald |
| Baker, W. H. K. (Banff) | Goodhew, Victor | Nicholls, Sir Harmar |
| Balniel, Lord | Cower, Raymond | Noble, Rt. Hn. Michael |
| Barber, Rt. Hn. Anthony | Grant, Anthony | Nott, John |
| Batsford, Brian | Gresham Cooke, R. | Onslow, Cranley |
| Beamish, Col. Sir Tufton | Grieve, Percy | Orr, Capt. L. P. S. |
| Bell, Ronald | Griffiths, Eldon (Bury St. Edmunds) | Orr-Ewing, Sir Ian |
| Bennett, Sir Frederic (Torquay) | Gurden, Harold | Osborn, John (Hallam) |
| Bennett, Dr. Reginald (Gos. & Fhm) | Hall, John (Wycombe) | Osborne, Sir Cyril (Louth) |
| Berry, Hn. Anthony | Hall-Davis, A. G. F. | Page, Graham (Crosby) |
| Bessell, Peter | Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury) | Pearson, Sir Frank (Clitheroe) |
| Bitten, John | Harris, Frederic (Croydon, N.W.) | Peel, John |
| Biggs-Davison, John | Harrison, Brian (Maldon) | Percival, Ian |
| Birch, Rt. Hn. Nigel | Harrison, Col. Sir Harwood (Eye) | Peyton, John |
| Black, Sir Cyril | Harvey, Sir Arthur Vere | Pike, Miss Mervyn |
| Blaker, Peter | Hawkins, Paul | Pink, R. Bonner |
| Boardman, Tom (Leicester, S.W.) | Hay, John | Powell, Rt. Hn. J. Enoch |
| Body, Richard | Heald, Rt. Hn. Sir Lionel | Price, David (Eastleigh) |
| Bossom, Sir Clive | Heath, Rt. Hn. Edward | Prior, J. M. L. |
| Boyd-Carpenter, Rt. Hn. John | Heseltine, Michael | Pym, Francis |
| Boyle, Rt. Hn. Sir Edward | Higgins, Terence L. | Quennell, Miss J. M. |
| Braine, Bernard | Hiley, Joseph | Ramsden, Rt. Hn. James |
| Brewis, John | Hill, J. E. B. | Rawlinson, Rt. Hn. sir Peter |
| Brinton, Sir Tatton | Hogg, Rt. Hn. Quintin | Rees-Davies, W. R. |
| Bromley-Davenport,Lt.-Col.SirWalter | Holland, Philip | Renton, Rt. Hn. Sir David |
| Brown, Sir Edward (Bath) | Hooson, Emlyn | Rhys Williams, Sir Brandon |
| Bruce-Gardyne, J. | Hordern, Peter | Ridley, Hn. Nicholas |
| Bryan, Paul | Hornby, Richard | Ridsdale, Julian |
| Buchanan-Smith,Alick(Angus,N&M) | Howell, David (Guildford) | Rippon, Rt. Hn. Geoffrey |
| Buck, Antony (Colchester) | Hunt, John | Robson Brown, Sir William |
| Bullus, Sir Eric | Hutchison, Michael Clark | Rodgers, Sir John (Sevenoaks) |
| Burden, F. A. | Iremonger, T. L. | Rossi, Hugh (Hornsey) |
| Campbell, B. (Oldham, W.) | Irvine, Bryant Godman (Rye) | Royle, Anthony |
| Campbell, Gordon (Moray & Nairn) | Jenkin, Patrick (Woodford) | Russell, Sir Ronald |
| Carlisle, Mark | Jennings, J. C. (Burton) | St. John-Stevas, Norman |
| Carr, Rt. Hn. Robert | Johnson Smith, G. (E. Grinstead) | Scott, Nicholas |
| Cary, Sir Robert | Jones, Arthur (Northants, S.) | Scott-Hopkins, James |
| Channon, H. p. G. | Joseph, Rt. Hn. Sir Keith | Sharples, Richard |
| Clark, Henry | Kaberry, Sir Donald | Shaw, Michael (Sc'b'gh & Whitby) |
| Clegg, Walter | Kerby, Capt. Henry | Silvester, Frederick |
| Cooke, Robert | Kershaw, Anthony | Sinclair, Sir George |
| Cooper-Key, Sir Neill | Kimball, Marcus | Smith, Dudley (W'wick & L'mington) |
| Corfield, F. V. | King, Evelyn (Dorset, s.) | Smith, John (London & W'minster) |
| Costain, A. P. | Kitson, Timothy | Speed, Keith |
| Craddock, Sir Beresford (Spelthorne) | Knight, Mrs. Jill | Stainton, Keith |
| Crouch, David | Lambton. Viscount | Stoddart-Scott, Col. Sir M. (Ripon) |
| Crowder, F. P. | Lancaster, Col. C. G. | Summers, Sir Spencer |
| Cunningham, Sir Knox | Lane, David | Tapsell, Peter |
| Currie, G. B. H. | Langford-Holt, Sir John | Taylor, Sir Charles (Eastbourne) |
| Dalkeith, Earl of | Legge-Bourke, Sir Harry | Taylor,Edward M.(G'gow,Cathcart) |
| Dance, James | Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) | Taylor, Frank (Moss Side) |
| d'Avigdor-Goldsmid, Sir Henry | Lloyd,Rt.Hn.Geoffrey(Sut'nC'dfield) | Teeling, Sir William |
| Dean, Paul (Somerset, N.) | Lloyd, Ian (P'tsm'th, Langstone) | Temple, John M. |
| Deedes, Rt. Hn. W. F. (Ashford) | Longden, Gilbert | Thatcher, Mrs. Margaret |
| Dodds-Parker, Douglas | Loveys, W. H. | Tilney, John |
| Donnelly, Desmond | Lubbock, Eric | Turton, Rt. Hn. R. H. |
| Doughty, Charles | McAdden, Sir Stephen | van Straubenzee, W. R. |
| Drayson, G. B. | Mac Arthur, Ian | Vaughan-Morgan, Rt. Hn. Sir John |
| du Cann, Rt. Hn. Edward | Maclean, Sir Fitzroy | Vickers, Dame Joan |
| Eden, Sir John | Macleod, Rt. Hn. Iain | Waddington, David |
| Elliot, Capt. Walter (Carshalton) | McMaster, Stanley | Wainwright, Richard (Colne Valley) |
| Emery, Peter | Maddan, Martin | Walker, Peter (Worcester) |
| Errington, Sir Eric | Marten, Neil | Walker-Smith, Rt. Hn. Sir Derek |
| Eyre, Reginald | Maude, Angus | Wall, Patrick |
| Farr, John | Maudling, Rt. Hn. Reginald | Walters, Dennis |
| Fisher, Nigel | Mawby, Ray | Ward, Dame Irene |
| Fletcher-Cooke, Charles | Maxwell-Hyslop, R. J. | Weatherill, Bernard |
| Fortescue, Tim | Maydon, Lt.-Cmdr. S. L. C. | Webster, David |
| Foster, Sir John | Mills, Peter (Torrington) | Wells, John (Maidstone) |
| Fraser,Rt.Hn.Hugh(st'fford & Stone) | Miscampbell, Norman | Whitelaw, Rt. Hn. William |
| Galbraith, Hn. T. G. | Mitchell, David (Basingstoke) | Williams, Donald (Dudley) |
| Gibson-Watt, David | Montgomery, Fergus | Wills, Sir Gerald (Bridgwater) |
§ The House divided: Ayes 238, Noes 262.
| Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro) | Worsley, Marcus | |
| Wolrige-Gordon, Patrick | Wright, Esmond | TELLERS FOR THE AYES: |
| Wood, Rt. Hn. Richard | Wylie, N. R. | Mr. R. W. Elliott and |
| Woodnutt, Mark | Mr. Jasper Moore. |
| NOES | ||
| Abse, Leo | Fitch, Alan (Wigan) | McGulre, Michael |
| Albu, Austen | Foley, Maurice | McKay, Mrs. Margaret |
| Alldritt, Walter | Ford, Ben | Mackenzie, Gregor (Rutherglen) |
| Allen, Scholefield | Forrester, John | Mackie, John |
| Anderson, Donald | Fowler, Gerry | Mackintosh, John P. |
| Archer, Peter | Fraser, John (Norwood) | Maclennan, Robert |
| Armstrong, Ernest | Freeson, Reginald | McMillan, Tom (Glasgow, C.) |
| Bacon, Rt. Hn. Alice | Gardner, Tony | McNamara, J. Kevin |
| Bagier, Gordon A. T. | Garrett, W. E. | Mahon, Peter (Preston, S.) |
| Barnes, Michael | Ginsburg, David | Mahon, Simon (Bootle) |
| Baxter, William | Gordon Walker, Rt. Hn. P. C. | Mallalieu, E. L. (Brigg) |
| Bence, Cyril | Gourlay, Harry | Mallalieu, J. P. W.(Huddersfield,E.) |
| Benn, Rt. Hn. Anthony Wedgwood | Gray, Dr. Hugh (Yarmouth) | Marks, Kenneth |
| Binns, John | Greenwood, Rt. Hn. Anthony | Marquand, David |
| Bishop, E. S. | Gregory, Arnold | Marsh, Rt. Hn. Richard |
| Blackburn, F. | Griffiths, David (Rother Valley) | Mayhew, Christopher |
| Blenkinsop, Arthur | Griffiths, Eddie (Brightside) | Mellish, Rt. Hn. Robert |
| Boardman, H. (Leigh) | Griffiths, Rt. Hn. James (Llanelly) | Millan, Bruce |
| Boston, Terence | Gunter, Rt. Hn. R. J. | Milne, Edward (Blyth) |
| Bottomley, Rt. Hn. Arthur | Hamilton, James (Bothwell) | Mitchell, R. C. (S'th'pton, Test) |
| Boyden, James | Hamilton, William (Fife, W.) | Molloy, William |
| Braddock, Mrs. E. M. | Hamling, William | Moonman, Eric |
| Bradley, Tom | Hannan, William | Morgan, Elystan (Cardiganshire) |
| Bray, Dr. Jeremy | Harper, Joseph | Morris, Charles R. (Openshaw) |
| Brooks, Edwin | Harrison, Walter (Wakefield) | Morris, John (Aberavon) |
| Broughton, Dr. A. D. D. | Hart, Rt. Hn. Judith | Moyle, Roland |
| Brown, Rt. Hn. George (Belper) | Haseldine, Norman | Mulley, Rt. Hn. Frederick |
| Brown, Hugh D. (G'gow, Provan) | Hattersley, Roy | Murray, Albert |
| Brown,Bob(N'c'tle-upon-Tyne,W.) | Hazell, Bert | Neal, Harold |
| Brown, R. W. (Shoreditch & F'bury) | Healey, Rt. Hn. Denis | Oakes, Gordon |
| Buchanan, Richard (G'gow, Sp'burn) | Herbison, Rt. Hn. Margaret | Ogden, Eric |
| Butler, Herbert (Hackney, C.) | Hilton, W. S. | O'Malley, Brian |
| Butler, Mrs. Joyce (Wood Green) | Hooley, Frank | Orbach, Maurice |
| Callaghan, Rt. Hn. James | Houghton, Rt. Hn. Douglas | Oswald, Thomas |
| Carmichael, Neil | Howarth, Harry (Wellingborough) | Owen, Dr. David (Plymouth, S'tn) |
| Carter-Jones. Lewis | Howarth, Robert (Bolton, E.) | Owen, Will (Morpeth) |
| Castle, Rt. Hn. Barbara | Howell, Denis (Small Heath) | Paget, R. T. |
| Coe, Denis | Howie, W. | Palmer, Arthur |
| Coleman, Donald | Hoy, James | Pannell, Rt. Hn. Charles |
| Concannon, J. D. | Huckfield, Leslie | Parkyn, Brian (Bedford) |
| Conlan, Bernard | Hughes, Rt. Hn. Cledwyn (Anglesey) | Pavitt, Laurence |
| Corbet, Mrs. Freda | Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) | Pearson, Arthur (Pontypridd) |
| Crawshaw, Richard | Hunter, Adam | Peart, Rt. Hn. Fred |
| Cronin, John | Hynd, John | Pentland, Norman |
| Crosland, Rt. Hn. Anthony | Irvine, Sir Arthur (Edge Hill) | Perry, Ernest G. (Battersea, S.) |
| Crossman, Rt. Hn. Richard | Jackson, Colln (B'h'se & Spenb'gh) | Prentice, Rt. Hn. R. E. |
| Cullen, Mrs. Alice | Jay, Rt. Hn. Douglas | Price, Christopher (Perry Barr) |
| Dalyell, Tam | Jeger, George (Goole) | Price, Thomas (Westhoughton) |
| Darling, Rt. Hn. George | Jeger,Mrs.Lena(H'b'n&St.P'cras,S.) | Pursey, Cmdr. Harry |
| Davidson, Arthur (Accrington) | Jenkins, Rt. Hn. Roy (Stechford) | Rankin, John |
| Davies, Ednyfed Hudson (Conway) | Johnson, Carol (Lewisham, S.) | Rees, Merlyn |
| Davies, C. Elfed (Rhondda, E.) | Johnson, James (K'ston-on-Hull, W.) | Reynolds, Rt. Hn. G. W. |
| Davies, Dr. Ernest (Stretford) | Jones, Dan (Burnley) | Richard, Ivor |
| Davies, Harold (Leek) | Jones, Rt.Hn.Sir Elwyn(W.Ham,S.) | Roberts, Albert (Normanton) |
| Davies, Ifor (Gower) | Jones, T. Alec (Rhondda, West) | Roberts,Rt.Hn.Goronwy(Caernarvon) |
| de Freitas, Rt. Hn. Sir Geoffrey | Judd, Frank | Roberts, Gwilym (Bedfordshire, S.) |
| Delargy, Hugh | Kelley, Richard | Robertson, John (Paisley) |
| Dell, Edmund | Kenyon, Clifford | Robinson,Rt.Hn.Kenneth (St.P'c'as) |
| Dempsey, James | Kerr, Dr. David (W'worth, Central) | Robinson, W. O. J. (Walth'stow, E) |
| Dewar, Ronald | Lawson, George | Rodgers, William (Stockton) |
| Diamond, Rt. Hn. John | Ledger, Ron | Roebuck, Roy |
| Dobson, Ray | Lee, Rt. Hn. Frederick (Newton) | Rogers, George (Kensington, N.) |
| Doig, Peter | Lestor, Miss Joan | Ron, Rt. Hn. William |
| Dunn, James A. | Lever, Harold (Cheetham) | Shaw, Arnold (Ilford, S.) |
| Dunnett, Jack | Lever, L. M. (Ardwick) | Shore, Rt. Hn. Peter (Stepney) |
| Dunwoody, Mrs. Gwyneth (Exeter) | Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) | Short, Rt.Hn.Edward(N'c-tle-u-Tyne) |
| Dunwoody, Dr. John (F'th & C'b'e) | Lipton, Marcus | Silkin, Hn. S. C. (Dulwich) |
| Eadie, Alex | Lomas, Kenneth | Skeffington, Arthur |
| Edelman, Maurice | Loughlin, Charles | Slater, Joseph |
| Edwards, Robert (Bilston) | Luard, Evan | Small, William |
| Edwards, William (Merioneth) | Lyon, Alexander W. (York) | Snow, Julian |
| English, Michael | Lyons, Edward (Bradford, E.) | Stewart, Rt. Hn. Michael |
| Ennals, David | Mabon, Dr. J. Dickson | Storehouse, Rt. Hn. John |
| Ensor, David | McBride, Neil | Strauss, Rt. Hn. G. R. |
| Evans, Albert (Islington, S.W.) | McCann, John | Summerskill, Hn Dr. Shirley |
| Evans, Fred (Caerphilly) | MacColl, James | Swingler, Stephen |
| Faulds, Andrew | MacDermot, Niall | Symonds, J. B. |
| Fernyhough, E. | Macdonald, A. H. | Taverne, Dick |
| Thomas, Rt. Hn. George | Watkins, David (Consett) | Willis, Rt. Hn. George |
| Thornton, Ernest | Weitzman, David | Wilson, Rt. Hn. Harold (Huyton) |
| Tinn, James | Wellbeloved, James | Wilson, William (Coventry, S.) |
| Tuck, Raphael | Wells, William (Walsall. N.) | Woodburn, Rt. Hn. A. |
| Urwin, T. W. | Whitaker, Ben | Woof, Robert |
| Varley, Eric C. | White, Mrs. Eirene | Yates, Victor |
| Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne Valley) | Wilkins, W. A. | |
| Walden, Brian (All Saints) | Willey, Rt. Hn. Frederick | TELLERS FOR THE NOE |
| Walker, Harold (Doncaster) | Williams, Alan (Swansea, W.) | Mr. Charles Grey and |
| Wallace, George | Williams, Clifford (Abertillery) | Mr. Ioan L. Evans. |