HC Deb 05 August 1971 vol 822 cc1840-1
Q1. Mr. Meacher

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a Ministerial broadcast on the relationship between his economic and social policies.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)

No, Sir. Our policies form a coherent pattern which is already well known and appreciated.

Mr. Meacher

Is the Prime Minister aware that his economic policy of making people stand on their own two feet has in the last year brought 15 million people to their knees by forcing them on to means tests? Does he accept that the Government have transferred £600 million from the poor to the rich at the expense of creating a new Poor Law?

The Prime Minister

I do not accept either the hon. Gentleman's figures or his statements.

Mr. Rost

If my right hon. Friend makes a broadcast on this subject, will he emphasise that for the Leader of the Opposition deliberately to encourage industrial anarchy by a sit-in does nothing to solve the problems but is merely an act of irresponsibility which may sell more memoirs?

The Prime Minister

I must leave that to the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Prentice

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it makes economic sense to take purchasing power out of the pockets of the sick and unemployed by increasing welfare and social payments at a time when the Chancellor of the Exchequer is acting to reflate the economy?

The Prime Minister

The Government have raised the limits under which the social benefits are paid, and this is beneficial to more people.

Mr. Thorpe

As the economic and social policies of the Government are so closely related, can the Prime Minister tell us whether the economic policies have caused the high rate of unemployment or whether the high rate of unemployment has dictated the economic policies?

The Prime Minister

It has been constantly explained in economic debates that the purpose of the economic policies is to encourage an expanding economy. We cannot make people more efficient or more independent; we can only give them the inducements to become so. It is as a result of economic growth, at which we are aiming, that better social service benefits can be paid. Better social benefits cannot be paid by supporting bankrupt companies.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

Referring to the Prime Minister's reply to the supplementary question of my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham, North (Mr. Prentice), may I ask the right hon. Gentleman why at a time when, as my right hon. Friend said, the Chancellor of the Exchequer finds it necessary to reflate the economy, the Government are pushing through cuts in school meals, school milk and a whole range of issues of this sort?

The Prime Minister

Because it is enabling us to put on a permanent basis an improvement in the social services which only the State can bring about. The right hon. Gentleman was not able to improve primary school building or hospital building programmes, but he should not be so envious of us because we have done it.