§ Ql. Mr. Ashtonasked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the 221 Library a copy of his public speech to the London Universities Conservative Association on 16th March on the relationship between the Government and trade unions.
§ Q2. Mr. Redmondasked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the public speech he made to London University Conservative Association on 16th March 1973 on Government and trade unions.
§ Q16. Mr. Norman Lamontasked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech to the London University Conservative Association in London on 16th March on the economy.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)I did so on 19th March, Sir.
§ Mr. AshtonIn that speech the Prime Minister said that he was concerned with the unfairnesses embedded in present-day society. Is he aware that the trade unions are also concerned about his potential unfairnesses in helping owner-occupiers with high interest rates and doing nothing about rents? Is he also aware that the trade unions, while wishing to see some aid given to owner-occupiers with regard to the 10 per cent. interest rates, expect at the same time that the present rent increases will be curtailed, so that there is fairness to all sections of the community?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have already dealt with the particular question of rebates by increasing them greatly at the beginning of the year after we had discussions with the trade unions.
§ Mr. RedmondDoes my right hon. Friend recall what he said in his speech about people who never go on strike? Does he not therefore welcome the news today that 69 per cent. of the miners have shown restraint? Will he express the hope that some other people might follow their example?
§ The Prime MinisterThe whole House will welcome the balloted decision of the miners. More and more people are beginning to realise how irrelevant any action on 1st May will be.
§ Mr. SkinnerIs the Prime Minister aware that this time last year it cost him 222 more than £100 million to pay off the miners after the seven-week strike? Does he not remember that in order to stop it on this occasion he introduced a Bill costing £1,200 million in an attempt to buy them off? If the miners carry matters a stage further next year, it will take even more money to buy them off.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not regard the investment in the coal industry as buying off the miners. What the investment in the coal industry is designed to do is to safeguard the living of the miners but above all to safeguard the fuel supplies of this country.
§ Mr. AdleyDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that the proposed one-day strike on 1st May will be about the most irrelevant event of the decade? Does it not show that not only the TUC but also the Labour Party appear to be totally out of touch now with the feeling of the country as expressed by the miners today?
§ The Prime MinisterI have just said that more and more people are recognising—and saying so in the trade union movement—that it is irrelevant. It will not change the Government's position. Stage 2 is now in operation. I understand that some 50 settlements covering about a million workers have already been made under stage 2. The whole thing, therefore, is pointless. What would be much more to the point would be if the Leader of the Opposition told the House what his real position is on this matter.
§ Mr. Harold WilsonI have repeatedly stated my position. Will the right hon. Gentleman now state his? As he has refused, on four occasions when I have asked him, to take any action on mortgage interest rates until he has now been pushed into it, will he say whether we can now expect a statement today or tomorrow, because this is of interest to millions of families whom he has let down?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the Government think it right to make a statement, they will do so. But meanwhile it would be of interest if the Leader of the Opposition would say whether on 1st May he proposes to act, to strike or to abstain.