HC Deb 19 March 1974 vol 870 cc846-7
Q4. Mr. Duffy

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent talks with the TUC and the CBI on prices and incomes policies.

The Prime Minister

I met the TUC on the morning of my first full day in office, 5th March, and the CBI on the afternoon of the same day. We had useful discussions with both organisations on the industrial and economic crisis, and in particular on the miners' dispute and the effects of the three-day week, including liquidity problems of manufacturing firms. The Government look forward to further meetings with both the TUC and the CBI in the near future.

Mr. Duffy

In view of the statement issued afterwards by the CBI in which it urged wage restraint upon him, is my right hon. Friend able to say how far he succeeded in persuading the CBI to the view that wages policy must be pursued within the framework of an orderly growth of incomes on a voluntary basis that takes account, of course, of the need to contain inflation?

The Prime Minister

That meeting between the CBI, my colleagues and myself was in the nature of an opening meeting. The CBI has had discussions with some of my right hon. Friends since that time. From the beginning we made clear the Government's position, which was repeated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment yesterday.

Mr. Ridley

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if the relativities report is to become the ruling code, stage 3 has to be amended by the House to accommodate it? Will the right hon. Gentleman do that or will the relativities report be thrown out of the window?

The Prime Minister

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said yesterday in his informative comments to the House.