§ Q5. Mr. Meacherasked the Prime Minister if the broadcast statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 19th June on economic policy represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Q16. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister if the broadcast by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 19th June on economic matters represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ Mr. MeacherAs in that broadcast the Chancellor of the Exchequer cited the Housing Finance Bill as an example of the Government trying to be fair, how does the Prime Minister explain that the Government's figures indicate that over a five-year period owner-occupiers with incomes of over £40 a week will gain an estimated £57 million a year in extra housing aid while council tenants with incomes below £40 a week, even after receiving rent rebates, will still be deprived of about £102 million a year in 242 housing aid? When will the Government stop using—[Interruption.]
§ The Prime MinisterIf the hon. Gentleman wants to ask that sort of detailed question, he can put it on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. DalyellThe Chancellor said that profits from land speculation were offensive to him. What will the Government do about it?
§ The Prime MinisterWhat we are arranging to do is to get a much greater release of land, for which local authorities have had some £80 million made available to them, so that with the greater quantity of land available speculation will not be profitable and there will not be the increases in land costs.
§ Mr. TapsellIn the light of what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said on 19th June will my right hon. Friend, in his talks later this afternoon with the TUC, draw the attention of the TUC to the fact that if note is not taken of the further developments on the foreign exchange markets today, job prospects all over the country will be put at risk?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend must stand by his remarks. But the point is that when the £ is floating, as it is at present, there will be variations until it has reached a settlement stage in the float. This must have been obvious to everybody at the time it was floated.
§ Mr. SkinnerWhen the Prime Minister refers to people in the private sector getting a rent allowance, is he aware that what is suggested in theory is completely different from what will happen in practice? The private tenant will go to council offices and/or the supplementary benefits office, collect the money and hand it over to the landlord, and the landlord will not even have to pay the bus fare to collect it.
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member is wrong in both practice and theory.