§ Q4. Mr. Sheldonasked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry made at Birmingham on 15th May to Conservative trade unionists on economic matters represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ Mr. SheldonSince the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry spoke about the need for competition in prices, what is the Prime Minister's view of the opinion expressed in the report of the O.E.C.D.—which includes a United Kingdom delegation—on inflation and the increase in prices, that consumer organisations should get financial support from the Government? Is it the intention of the Prime Minister to re-form the Consumer Council?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, that is not our intention. There are individual organisations in this country, on which the Government are not represented, which are dealing with these specific matters. We made that quite plain last autumn when we took the decision. The O.E.C.D. produced a general thesis about the various ways of dealing with the general question of inflation and prices in the Western countries of the world. I should not have thought that some of the recommendations made by the O.E.C.D. about monetary deflation were particularly in line with the hon. Gentleman's own views, or with those of his Front Bench.
§ Mr. Harold Wilson rose——
§ Mr. Harold WilsonThis is on the question of prices. Since the right hon. Gentleman's mandate for all the policies described in the speech by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which is mentioned in the Question, derives from his one single pledge on prices in the General Election—that is why he is in his present position; he would not be there otherwise—will he say whether he agrees or disagrees with the strictures of the Minister of Agriculture yesterday?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman appears to be working himself up again, particularly as he never even read the document himself. The fact that S.E.T. is being halved has cut prices—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] If the right hon. Gentleman does not want S.E.T. halved, he had better stand up and tell the country so.
§ Mr. Roy Jenkins rose——
§ Mr. St. John-StevasIs not the intervention of the Leader of the Opposition—[HON. MEMBERS: "Let Roy have a go."]—a very good example of a drowning man clutching at a straw?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend is quite right: the right hon. Gentleman is about to be taken over by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsWill the Prime Minister say specifically whether the statement yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture—that housewives were not expected to take seriously the Prime Minister's statement—represents Government policy?
§ The Prime MinisterPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman would now look at the text of the script. He should recognise that the interviewer was doing what he and his colleagues have done so often, which is to misquote what was said in the statement; and my right hon. Friend said that housewives certainly did not believe that.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsWill the Prime Minister tell us what the Minister of Agriculture did say yesterday?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman should get the script for himself.