§ Q2. Mr. Ashtonasked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech at Croydon on 30th November concerning the fuel situation.
§ The Prime MinisterI did so on 4th December, Sir.
§ Mr. AshtonDoes the Prime Minister recall that in that speech he said that everything he did was always in the national interest? Can he say whether the coat of varnish that he applied yesterday to the woodworm and dry rot in the national economy was in the national interest or whether it was in the interest of the Conservative Party and a possible winter General Election?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government endeavour to put the national interest first. If the hon. Member does not wish to have a policy which has greatly helped employment and does not wish to see us taking the necessary steps to deal with the conditions forced upon us, he must say what else he wants to do.
§ Mr. SutcliffeIn view of the energy situation, is my right hon. Friend now working out a new deal for the miners once phase 3 has been accepted by them?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not quite know what my hon. Friend has in mind by "a new deal". As I said to the 1140 members of the NUM executive when they came to see me, they can negotiate anything within stage 3. I also pointed out to them that, as regards the longer-term interests of the industry, we had already shown our belief in the industry not by words but by committing £1,100 million of taxpayers' money to it for the future. If they wish to discuss with the National Coal Board the future manning and investment policy of the industry, the NCB will be perfectly prepared to do that, as will be the Government.
§ Mr. BennWill the Prime Minister explain how it is that on the one hand he is sticking to stage 3 when coal and electricity prices are to rise in excess of what is allowed in stage 3, while on the other hand miners' wages are to be held down, although both were covered by the Price and Pay Code?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman must be more precise in his language. A wage offer by the National Coal Board which amounts to an increase of 13 per cent. in a year, plus 3½ per cent. in addition from an efficiency scheme, is not holding down wages in any sense whatever of the English language.
Yesterday my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer described the extent of the subsidies that are being paid to industries on prices—£150 million for coal, which may double, and £75 million for electricity—and he said that we would enter into discussions with the nationalised industries about any increases in prices to meet part of that subsidy.
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no justification whatever for the right hon. Gentleman to say "In breach of stage 3".