§ 18. Dr. Strangasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the award recommended by the Wilberforce Committee, he will reconsider the Trades Union Congress proposals for controlling inflation, details of which have been sent to him.
§ Mr. BarberThese proposals were discussed at the meeting of the N.E.D.C. on 6th January. There will be further opportunities at the Council and elsewhere to discuss methods of tackling inflation.
§ Dr. StrangIs the Chancellor aware that his policy of forcing up rents and food prices and introducing charges to cut taxes for the rich goes directly against proposals that any reasonable Government could have for curbing inflation, and that the T.U.C. proposals are reasonable and could make an important contribution, if the Government were prepared to withdraw the charges?
§ Mr. BarberThe hon. Gentleman's question is concerned with certain proposals which were put forward by the T.U.C. I have already explained that what the T.U.C. proposed was wage increases related both to past and future increases in the cost of living and to a faster rate of growth of productivity than we are achieving. I can only conclude that that would be inflationary.