§ Q3. Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the CBI.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 25th November.
§ Mr. LathamWill the Prime Minister tell the CBI when next he meets it whether he accepts the warning in the Bank of England's December Quarterly Bulletin that public expenditure must take a smaller proportion of our national resources if the economy is to regain its strength?
§ The Prime MinisterI spoke on these lines about the base not only at the Guildhall recently, but when I addressed the National Council on Social Services yesterday. I shall tell the CBI that the whole House, I hope, is encouraged by the CBI's latest survey on industrial trends, and I hope that some hon. Member—perhaps some right hon. Member—will get up and say so.
§ Mr. WatkinsonWill my right hon. Friend consider giving an added impetus to the growth of the economy by limiting hire-purchase restrictions?
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot anticipate the statement on the economy that will be made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer when we have the debate on the economic situation next week.