HC Deb 07 May 1970 vol 801 cc573-5
Q2. Mr. Blaker

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister to coordinate the publication of all statistics for which the Government is responsible, and to ensure that these are presented to the House and the public on a consistent basis.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. Ministerial responsibility for the preparation and publication of Departmental statistics rests with the Departmental Ministers concerned. The Central Statistical Office is however concerned to ensure that, so far as possible, statistics are collected and published on a consistent basis.

Mr. Blaker

Is the Prime Minister satisfied that Government statistics are presented on a consistent basis? Does he still take the view expressed in the Government's own document "In place of Strife", and in the Report of the Donovon Commission, that the proper criterion for the effect of industrial disputes on the economy is the number of strikes, outside coal mining?

The Prime Minister

I do not want hon. Members opposite to get confused on that particular point. In fact, they have been used in other ways. But since the hon. Gentleman is concerned with statistics he will have noticed that some support was given last weekend to an estimate that, as a result of the Downing Street agreement last June, 2 million man-days which would have been lost through strikes were saved by the activities of Mr. Feather and the T.U.C. [Interruption.] If hon. Gentlemen are laughing today, the newspapers which have supported them are not laughing today.

Mr. John Fraser

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the interpretation of tabular statistics by the layman is most difficult? Could he arrange to have the statistics showing an increase by this Government of 74 per cent. expenditure on social security, and 70 per cent. on housing, health and education published in graphic form, as well as arranging publication of the increasing ownership of cars, television sets and refrigerators after six years of Labour Government?

The Prime Minister

I am grateful for my hon. Friend's interest in these matters. But it shows that even he can give a figure that is a little out of date, because the figures which he quoted are for last year. If he will do me the honour of studying my speech in Bristol last Sunday—and I am sorry that he cannot see any of these figures quoted in the National Press—he will find that the relevant figures are more, in the 86, 87 or 93 per cent. range, except for hospital building where the increase compared with the last full year of Tory Government was 132 per cent.

Mr. Maudling

As this question is about the consistency of Government statistics, may I ask whether the Prime Minister has made any revision of the initial assessment of the domestic economy which was made by his Government in October and November, 1964? If he has made a revision, where can we find it?

The Prime Minister

I can see the deep trauma on the part of the right hon. Gentleman in regard to 1964 when he did not seem to know that there was a £800 million deficit—he told us afterwards—even though he was Chancellor of the Exchequer. We have published all the figures for these years. He will have seen what he has never been kind enough, despite his usual generous nature, to point out—that in 1966 we were very close to a balance in our payments and it was only the Middle East war of 1967 that got us into trouble.

Mr. Maudling

In fact, is the Prime Minister aware that, by the early months of 1965, there was a balance on current account? May I, therefore, ask him to confirm whether he still believes that, in October, 1964, apart from special situations, there was no undue pressure on resources calling for action? If he confirms that that was so, what happens to the myth about the Tory election boom about which his misguided colleagues are always talking?

The Prime Minister

The Tory election boom was in such a form that it led to a £800 million deficit at that stage. I will leave the right hon. Gentleman to disport himself in this ancient history in The Times with Dr. Kaldor and others. I leave them to it. The plain fact is that the country knows that there was a £800 million deficit when we came in and that there is a £500 million surplus now.