NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (Hansard, 5 May 1970)

§ Ql. Mr. Marten
asked the Prime Minister when he will next take the chair at the National Economic Development Council.

§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)
On 3rd June, Sir.

§ Mr. Marten
As the Prime Minister will no doubt be discussing unemployment at that meeting, can he tell the House whether, in view of the consistently high level of unemployment, the Labour Government are considering going back to the 1951 formula of Mr. Gaitskell, that 3 per cent. is the rate of unemployment for full employment?

§ The Prime Minister
Remembering that particular controversy, I can tell the hon. Gentleman that, most unusually for him, he has totally misquoted what Mr. Gaitskell said on that occasion. With regard to unemployment generally, I understand that the House will be debating it tomorrow.

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
As my right hon. Friend will no doubt be discussing the recovery in our balance of payments, may I ask him whether he is aware that the whole country admires the enormous progress made in this direction? Does he think it would be a good idea to consider giving the Queen's Award for Industry to the retailer on the South Coast who sells more British and Commonwealth food to our Common Market visitors than any of his competitors?

§ The Prime Minister
I referred to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question the other day. I did not realise that it was only one retailer. I thought they were all able to provide goods at much lower prices and, judging from what I have read in the newspapers covering this story, this goes far beyond those prices and commodities covered by Common Market policies. It extends to things which are not the subject of Common Market agricultural prices, where we are very much more than competitive. On the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, I am aware that the whole country rejoices in the success of the Government and the people in the matter of the balance of payments—

§ Sir W. Bromley-Davenport
Get on with it.

§ The Prime Minister
—including no doubt the hon. and gallant Member for Knutsford (Sir W. Bromley-Davenport). Some members of the community are more articulate than others in expressing their pleasure.