Sir Harmar NichollsI beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration; namely,
the need for a period of an all-party approach to deal with an inflation which has been accelerating since 1968–69, first because of wage costs and subsequently and more recently as a consequence of world commodity and oil prices, as well as wage costs, which has now reached a rate of over 13 per cent. and which, according to the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, is likely to reach a level of 15 per cent. this year—which may well be an understatement—a rate of inflation which inevitably carries with it the threat of economic stagnation and heavy unemployment by the end of the year unless we can secure a Government which can carry the confidence and enthusiasm of trade unions, management, investors and savers; recognising that some trade unions would have insufficient confidence in a Conservative Government and that management and investors have insufficient confidence in a Labour Government, at a time when the nation now needs the wholehearted efforts of all these groups, as a matter of supreme urgency, to safeguard our standard of life at home and our influence abroad".There can be no doubt about the importance of this matter. If inflation continues, wages, pensions and everything 1274 else will fall through the floor. In view of the influence that Britain must wield in the world, we must have a Government which carries the confidence of the world.The urgency is certain. Unless we start on this matter in a co-operative way at once, it may well be that events will overtake us before we are in a position to apply the remedies.
I believe that Parliament as a whole should now give instructions to the Government that this is what the nation needs and what the nation's future deserves, and it is with that thought in mind that I submit my motion to the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member has asked leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 to discuss the matter he has outlined. No doubt these are most important matters, but in my view they are not appropriate to he debated under Standing Order No. 9, and I must reject the application.