HC Deb 14 May 1968 vol 764 cc1034-5
Q5. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Lord President of the Council to the Conference of the Transport and General Workers Union at Birmingham on 28th January about devaluation and withdrawal from the East represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The Prime Minister

I have answered seven previous Questions on this speech, Sir. The Answer remains unchanged.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Is the Prime Minister aware that all seven of those Answers, which I have studied, were evasive? Will he now create a precedent by giving a straight answer to the question of whether or not he regards devaluation as having been a big stride on the road to Socialism?

The Prime Minister

The reply which I gave on seven occasions was, "Yes, Sir", which was unequivocal. To all seven questions put I said, "Yes, Sir". If the right hon. Gentleman is now referring to supplementary questions, he will find, if he studies the speech, that the quotation which he attributes to my right hon. Friend was not a correct one. He did not say that it was a great stride on the road to Socialism—[HON. MEMBERS:"…a giant stride."] He did not say that it was a giant stride on the road to Socialism. I refreshed my memory of the speech again this morning. He referred to the great opportunities created by devaluation and two other measures, the second of which was the defence decisions, opposed by right hon. Gentlemen opposite, and the third was a reference to the Budget which was then in prospect but not available to the House. My answer in respect of what he said in relation to all three is, "Yes, Sir; it does represent the view of Her Majesty's Government".

Mr. Peyton

rose—

Mr Hon. Members

Oh.

Mr. Peyton

Does the Prime Minister appreciate how much we admire him when he is being at least consistent in his handling of this question? But still we have nothing from him. Are we to deduce from that that any suggestion of a giant stride towards Socialism is now to be abandoned? If so, that will be welcome.

The Prime Minister

I do not think that, most unusually, that supplementary question justified the enormous public expectation which resulted from the hon. Gentleman's rising to his feet. I have answered a Question about what my right hon. Friend said in relation to the three measures which I have mentioned. If the hon. Gentleman now wishes to raise wider issues of progress towards Socialism, we shall be very glad to answer him at any time.