§ Q1. Mr. St. John-Stevasasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a further statement on his talks with the Trade Union Congress and Confederation of British Industry.
§ Q4. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his tripartite talks with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress at Downing Street on Tuesday, 18th July.
§ Q16. Mr. Sheldonasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with members of the Confederation of British Industry and the Trade Union Congress in Downing Street on 18th July.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)As to our meeting on the 18th July, I would refer hon. Members to the answer I gave on the 20th July to a Question from the hon. Members for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) and Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Carter). A further meeting is taking place later this afternoon.—[Vol. 841, c. 163.]
§ Mr. St. John-StevasI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, but may I ask him to assure the House that at the meeting high priority will be given to considering means of improving the position of lower-paid workers? Will not the rent rebate scheme be a contribution towards that end without stirring up the hornets' nest of differentials?
§ The Prime MinisterYes. The question of the lower paid was one on which there was considerable discussion at the last meeting and it was then agreed that we should further study and pursue it in greater detail at the meeting later this afternoon. The point my hon. Friend has mentioned is one of those which is taken into account.
§ Mr. DalyellWhy does the Prime Minister suppose that the major employers dislike his Industrial Relations Act so much?
§ The Prime MinisterAs they do not dislike it, the question does not need an answer.