HC Deb 12 May 1970 vol 801 cc1056-8
Q1. Mr. St. John-Stevas

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a transcript of his broadcast concerning Government policy in the This Week programme on Thursday, 16th April.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

I did so, Sir, on 20th April and also repeated an extract from the broadcast in the House on 28th April.—[Vol. 800, c. 1049.]

Mr. St. John-Stevas

How does the Prime Minister reconcile the high moral sentiments he expressed in that broadcast with the proposed Labour Party advertising campaign, which constitutes a dive into the political gutter—

Hon. Members

"Oh!"

Mr. St. John-Stevas

—which the Prime Minister personally authorised?

The Prime Minister

Since the hon. Gentleman put this Question down three weeks ago he must have had more knowledge of the advertising than I. As to the dive into the gutter, there is no such dive here. If there were, those who are diving would find themselves in the company of people who have been there for three years.

Mr. Alfred Morris

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply to the original Question, may I ask whether he is aware that Her Majesty's Opposition appear to be operating a kind of " unofficial secrets " Act? If he hears anything at all about the Wheatcroft Report, commissioned by the right hon. Member for Bexley (Mr. Heath) and the right hon. Member for Enfield, West (Mr. fain Macleod), the publication of which is more than four months overdue, will he tell us about it immediately?

The Prime Minister

These are not matters for me. There are important Questions on the Order Paper about Government responsibilities. My hon. Friend would not wish me to be responsible for the variations of Conservative policy, either on V.A.T. or on anything else.

Mr. Thorpe

In view of this Question, can the right hon. Gentleman please arrange for the plastic models to be placed in the Library—[Laughter.]—so that the electorate, who we want to be properly informed on various matters as they come to the election, can decide which of the two is the lesser of the two evils?

The Prime Minister

On the first part of the question, I will direct the right hon. Gentleman's remarks to those who are concerned with these matters to see whether it can possibly be arranged. On the latter part of the question, I notice that this is the second time running that the right hon. Gentleman has tried to get into the act as to who is the least of the three evils. If he insists on being in the act I will now claim to be the least of the three evils.