§ 27. Sir Gilbert Longdenasked the Lord President of the Council what action the Government have decided to take as a result of the report of the Population Panel.
§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. James Prior)It is the Government's intention to announce their reaction to the Population Panel's report later in the autumn.
§ Sir Gilbert LongdenWhile not really thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I remind him that the panel states in its report that its
analysis leads them to the conclusion that Britain would do better in future with a stationary rather than an increasing population"?The panel's report continues by saying thatsooner or later Britain must fact the fact that its population cannot go on increasing indefinitely.Would it not be better to face that fact sooner rather than later?
§ Sir D. RentonWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the Population Panel recommended that there should be a Minister in charge of this subject, and that he should be a senior Minister? Will my right hon. Friend draw the Prime Minister's attention to that fact?
§ Mr. PriorYes. I know that that is what the Population Panel's report suggested, and thank goodness I am not responsible for the appointment.
§ Miss QuennellCan my right hon. Friend clarify what he means by the autumn? Is it this autumn, 1973, or the autumn of 1974?