§ Q6. Mr. Meacherasked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech to the Buckinghamshire Conservative Associations at Aylesbury on 13th July on his social policies.
§ The Prime MinisterI did so on 16th July, Sir.
§ Mr. MeacherAs in that speech, the Prime Minister made claims about increasing national wealth, may I ask whether he is aware that he deceived the House in July by claiming that real incomes rose in the first quarter of this year when, in fact, they fell? Is he also aware that he is now deceiving the country by claiming that real earnings have risen under phase 1 and phase 2 when the retail price index which he uses omits mortgage repayments, which have risen by 40 per cent. over the last six months, which has made the country not richer but poorer?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's conclusion. If he wishes to argue statistics, perhaps he will let me have them.