§ Q1. Mr. Beithasked the Prime Minister to which Minister he has assigned responsibility for population policy.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 21st March to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short).—[Vol. 870, c. 152.]
§ Mr. BeithWill the Prime Minister indicate whether the noble Lord to whom he referred in that reply has sufficient time and sufficient staff at his disposal to carry out the work required, particularly now that the assumptions about economic growth, on which the Population Panel based its report, are seen to be in question?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, I think that the noble Lord has sufficient time and sufficient staff to do his job.
§ Sir David RentonWill the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that the Government, like their predecessors, accept the recommendations of the Ross Panel?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, but I think that the attitude of the House on all these matters will be that the greatest happiness will be realised if those families who want to have children are able to have them and those who do not want to are able not to have them.