HC Deb 07 July 1970 vol 803 c476
11. Mr. Milne

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information was provided by his Department in regard to the state of the country's economy for inclusion in the statement made on behalf of Her Majesty's Government by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster at the Meeting of the Conference of European Communities at Luxembourg on 30th June, 1970 published as Command Paper No. 4401.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

All relevant information was made available to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Milne

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the dilemma in which the Government have been placed by this decision, because in arguing at Luxembourg that our economy was on a sound and stable basis they were giving evidence which was contrary to the arguments of the Prime Minister during the election campaign that we were running into an economic crisis? Will the hon. Gentleman try to square those two statements?

Mr. Jenkin

There is nothing to square. I hope that the hon. Gentleman shares fully our concern about the high rate of unemployment, about the rate at which inflation is going, and about the low rate of investment. These are matters for concern. My right hon. Friend's statement at Luxembourg was not debating our economy