§ The Prime MinisterI have at present no plans to do so, Sir.
§ Mr. GowI thank the Prime Minister for that answer, but will he reconsider it? Is he aware that in my constituency we have as high a proportion of people living on fixed incomes as any other constituency in the country, and that those people, having borne the burden of so many sacrifices in the past two years, are increasingly resentful of the fact that the Government propose this year to spend £6,300 million more than they propose to raise in taxation? A lead from the Government, by themselves making sacrifices, is something my constituents would welcome.
§ The Prime MinisterThe point the hon. Member was trying to make, admittedly with commendable brevity, would, I think, be more appropriately made in the debate on the Finance Bill later today.
As regards the hon. Member's question concerning the borrowing requirement, he will recognise that in view of the very substantial and unprecedented improvements made during the past year in 1353 the position of pensions for retired people —greater than ever before in our history —as well as the changes proposed in certain pensioners' taxation matters, if we accepted the view which I think he was putting, namely, that we should reduce the borrowing requirement, the help for the people of whom he is speaking might not have been made available.
§ Mr. PeytonSince the Prime Minister has not said much this afternoon, will he have another go at answering my hon. Friend's question.
§ The Prime MinisterI answered the hon. Gentleman's question fully. I should be glad to answer a question from the right hon. Gentleman, who rises from his seat from time to time. Does the right hon. Gentleman want me to answer a question from himself saying that we should reduce Government expenditure in these matters to cut the public sector borrowing requirement? If that is his view, let him say so.
§ Mr. PeytonI asked the Prime Minister, very politely, when he would answer the question.
§ The Prime MinisterI have answered the Question on the Order Paper. I shall not be visiting Eastbourne immediately.
Secondly, I did miss out one point in the answer. The hon. Member said that the people of Eastbourne had had a lot to put up with recently. Now we can understand why.