HC Deb 13 November 1973 vol 864 cc266-8
The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. James Prior)

In view of the statement just made by my right hon. Friend, the business for Thursday will be rearranged to allow a debate on Her Majesty's Most Gracious Message—

Mr. Arthur Lewis

Why not tomorrow? Will it upset the wedding?

Mr. Prior

—and on the emergency regulations which are being made today.

Mr. Harold Wilson

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us now whether the Prime Minister or the Chancellor intend making a statement today about the measures announced by the Government this morning outside this House? Is he aware that there are abundant precedents? Does he recall that when Bank Rate was raised to 7 per cent. there was a cry "crisis" and it was regarded as deserving a Prime Ministerial statement? Does he realise that the Government have raised the rate to nearly double that figure without the right hon. Gentleman having the guts to tell the House? Is he aware that when there have been similar effects on mortgages in the past and special deposits have been used we have had a ministerial statement? Are we to get one this afternoon?

Will the right hon. Gentleman further undertake that there will be a major debate in Government time to enable the Government to explain to the House the total breakdown of their policies? Is he aware that if he does not do this this afternoon we shall seek a Standing Order No. 9 debate so that we can debate the actions of the Government—and we shall seek to do it immediately? The right hon. Gentleman had better tell us this afternoon whether, and when, we are to have a major debate in Government time so that we can move a motion of censure on the Government.

Since the Prime Minister knew about these trade figures before the four by-elections—[Interruption.] Oh yes, they were known. The right hon. Gentleman cannot deny that. Will the Leader of the House undertake to have the Prime Minister explain why Ministers were making by-election speeches in his name saying that the Government's economic policy was succeeding? Can we have an honest admission from the Prime Minister about this blatant deceit?

Mr. Prior

To answer the right hon. Gentleman's point about statements, it has not been usual for statements to be made following a call for special deposits, and the right hon. Gentleman knows that. It is up to the right hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends to put down a motion of censure, and the Government will respond to it. As for the right hon. Gentleman worrying about our attitude to the by-elections, I can quite understand why he is so upset.

Mr. Wilson

It is because we knew at the time of the deceit of right hon. Gentlemen and they have proved it today. Since the right hon. Gentleman talked about special deposits—

Mr. Rost

Tell us about the national interest.

Mr. Wilson

We are talking about the national interest. That is why we want this lot out.

The right hon. Gentleman spoke about precedents. There is no precedent for a 13 per cent. Bank Rate in this country. Only twice, for a short time before this Government came into office, was there even a 10 per cent. Bank Rate, in one case in the last century. Will the right hon. Gentleman now say whether, if we table a motion of censure tonight, we shall get a debate early next week?

Mr. Prior

We will, of course, discuss the time for debate through the usual channels, and after that I will certainly make an announcement.

Mr. Gorst

May I put it to my right hon. Friend that there is no emergency justifying the early debate which he has announced? While appreciating that oil is flowing more thinly through the jugular veins of Europe and that there is very little fire in the belly of the nation as a result of the proposed stoppages in the coal industry, may I suggest to my right hon. Friend that before invoking emer- gency powers it might have been more successful to have invoked some section in the Industrial Relations Act? Or can my right hon. Friend confirm that the Industrial Relations Act is sterile in this respect?

Mr. Prior

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has already explained why the Government have taken the action they have. The points which my hon. Friend makes will be relevant to the debate.

Mr. Ewing

Does the Leader of the House really expect the Government to be taken seriously when they create a sense of crisis in the country after one day of stoppage of overtime in the coalfield and yet the debate on the emergency powers is to wait until Thursday this week? To what order of priorities are the Government working?

Mr. Prior

I have looked up the precedents for when debates are held following the announcement of a proclamation such as that which the Home Secretary has announced this afternoon. It is generally the custom to have one, two, three or even more days between the statement being made and the regulations being discussed in the House. There is nothing unusual about this, and it is generally for the convenience of hon. Members.

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