§ Q1. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Prime Minister whether he will advise that exporters other than manufacturers should be eligible for the Queen's Award.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)Yes, Sir. From this year onwards merchants and those responsible for invisible exports will be eligible.
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltIs my right hon. Friend aware that that is a very welcome answer? Can he say whether, in his view, the selection system is satisfactory?
§ The Prime MinisterThe McFadzean Committee, set up by my predecessor, examined the selection procedure and concluded that, generally speaking, it worked well.
§ Mr. AshleyAs all exports are dependent on co-operation in industry, why is the Prime Minister jeopardising that co-operation by making provocative and divisive speeches about industrial relations on the same lines as those which the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) makes about race relations?
§ The Prime MinisterThat supplementary question goes very wide of the Queen's Award.