§ Q4. Mr. George Gardinerasked the Prime Minister whether the public speech by the Secretary of State for Industry on 19th June to the AUEW at Great Yarmouth on the Government's intentions towards industry represents Government policy.
§ Q6. Mr. Hurdasked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by the Secretary of State for Industry at Great Yarmouth on 19th June on the Government's intentions towards industry represents Government policy.
Q8. Mr. Jasperasked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Secretary of State for Industry at Great Yarmouth on 19th June concerning the Government's industrial intentions represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ Mr. GardinerSince a number of the Prime Minister's colleagues are making earnest efforts at the moment to re-establish some confidence in industry, will the Prime Minister agree that his coming White Paper should clearly state the industries and firms which are earmarked for nationalisation and for the so-called "planning agreements"? Will the White Paper also clear up the position of the banks, insurance companies and building societies?
§ The Prime MinisterThe White Paper will set out clearly the policy of Her Majesty's Government as laid down in our manifesto which we presented to the people at the General Election.
§ Mr. AshleyIs it reasonable to assume that the Opposition campaign against nationalisation and in favour of free enterprise implies directly that free enterprise firms should be free from any kind of Governmental financial assistance? If the Opposition take that view, should they not say so?
§ The Prime MinisterCertain campaigns in part at least, are in favour not of free enterprise but of free "un-enterprise" and monopolies.
§ Mr. HurdWill the Prime Minister say what his choice will be if, in the autumn, he has to decide between sticking to the highly divisive policies announced by the Secretary of State and taking part in a national Government designed to deal with an increasingly serious economic situation?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the only time that this country has been in real danger, through divisive confrontation policies, was in the period up to 28th February this year, when the country 600 rejected those policies, petulantly and deliberately introduced by the then Prime Minister.
§ Mr. Jeffrey ArcherWe got more votes than you did.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Conservatives did not say that in 1951. I thought the hon. Member was on a point which he and others regarded seriously. If the problems of this country are to be solved—and we are facing deep problems, partly from outside and partly inherited from the policies of the Conservative Government—it will not happen by going to the lowest common denominator between the parties. National unity will not he brought about by the sort of contribution we have seen from the Conservative Party in terms of any proposed Government of bogus unity.