HC Deb 11 April 1974 vol 872 cc634-5
Q4. Mr. Norman Lamont

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek an invitation to address a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in London.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Lamont

Has the Prime Minister had an opportunity to study the recent speech made by the General Secretary of the TUC to the American Chamber of Commerce in London, in which he said that he was puzzled why people worried so much about inflation and were so mesmerised by the issue? He said that we should worry about inflation only if it caused social instability. Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that that is not the Government's view, and is not the basis on which the social contract was made?

The Prime Minister

It is not necessary for me to ask the American Chamber of Commerce for another invitation to speak for me to be able to read the excellent speech made by Mr. Len Murray. There is no ministerial responsibility for his speech. I do not regard one sentence taken out of context in a most valuable speech as justifying a supplementary question of that kind.

Mr. Body

As the existing level of Anglo-American trade is put in peril by the protectionism of the common agricultural policy, and as this protectionism is likely to increase throughout our transitional period of membership, will the Prime Minister undertake to make plain to any gathering of the American Chamber of Commerce that he is insistent upon fundamental changes in the CAP?

The Prime Minister

I discussed this matter at some length with the President of the United States last Saturday. The hon. Gentleman will be glad to know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade will be visiting the United States in the near future and will deal with the general problems of our trade, the adequacy of the effort being made here and the difficulties we face. He will also be discussing with members of the American Government the particular issues raised by the United States in relation to GATT and the compensation it wants for the enlargement of the Community.

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