HC Deb 22 March 1973 vol 853 cc651-2
Q2. Mr. Skinner

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech delivered at the London Hilton Hotel on Thursday 1st March 1973 on the economy.

The Prime Minister

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Conway (Mr. Wyn Roberts) on 15th March.— [Vol. 852, c. 1469.]

Mr. Skinner

Does the Prime Minister remember saying in his speech at the Hilton Hotel that he was in somewhat of a dilemma about the resources going to wages? Had that anything to do with the fact that on the same day he had announced the appointment of the Chairmen of the Pay Board and the Price Commission—each at a salary of £16,000 —together with salary increases that went straight through the phase 2 proposals?

The Prime Minister

There is no dilemma and no problem about the appointments. These were new appointments, and the salaries fixed were on the level of similar appointments.

Mr. Edward Taylor

Will my right hon. Friend say whether the official speech to be made by the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) in the House tomorrow represents the official policy of the Opposition?

The Prime Minister

Her Majesty's Opposition had better wait to hear it. and then try to make up their mind.

Mr. Pardoe

What investigations have the Government undertaken to discover whether perfectly suitable people would undertake these two jobs for less than £16,000? [Interruption.] I assure the Prime Minister that I would offer my services for a good deal less than that. If the Government could have obtained perfectly suitable people to do this job at less than £16,000, why are they wasting the taxpayers' money by paying a salary in excess of that which they need to pay?

The Prime Minister

Unlike the Liberal Party, it is not the Government's policy to go for sweated labour.

Mr. Thorpe

Arising out of that interesting exchange, I take it that the Prime Minister is so worried about sweated labour that he will back the Liberal Party's demand for guaranteed minimum earnings?

The Prime Minister

We discussed with the TUC in the tripartite talks at Chequers the aim of ensuring a proper wage for all lower-paid workers and we are placing the emphasis on this in the Price and Pay Code.