HC Deb 23 March 1972 vol 833 cc1673-4
Q4. Mr. Onslow

asked the Prime Minister if he will issue an official invitation to the Leader of the Opposition to attend his next official meeting with the Confederation of British Industry.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Onslow

Should not the Leader of the Opposition be asked to do something to justify his existence? If he could be persuaded to sit quietly through such a meeting, would it not show the Leader of the Opposition that if there is any anaemia in British industry it is the result of six years on the poison drip of Socialism—and that this week's Budget should provide a cure?

The Prime Minister

I think that my hon. Friend is asking a great deal of the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. C. Pannell

On a point of order. Recently, Mr. Speaker, you rebuked my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) by saying "Enough is enough". Surely this is an abuse of Parliamentary Questions. Whatever else the Prime Minister is responsible for, he is not responsible for the Leader of the Opposition or the Labour Party. Will you therefore deal with the pranks and platitudes of the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow)?

Mr. Speaker

Order. I share the right hon. Gentleman's view that far too many speeches are made by way of supplementary questions.

The Prime Minister

I have myself come to the same conclusion as that of the right hon. Member for I needs, West (Mr. C. Pannell). My hon. Friend at the beginning of his supplementary question was asking a great deal when he said that I should ask the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition to sit quietly through such a meeting. That is asking too much of him.