HC Deb 08 July 1975 vol 895 cc330-2
Q3. Mr. Freud

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for the rest of 8th July.

Q10. Mr. Radice

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 8th July.

Mr. Edward Short

I have been asked to reply.

As the House knows, my right hon. Friend is visiting Edinburgh today in connection with the State visit of the King of Sweden.

Mr. Freud

As the Prime Minister spent yesterday teaching the economic facts of life to the miners, will the Leader of the House try to persuade him to conduct a similar exercise with the Tribune Group tomorrow?

Mr. Short

The hon. Gentleman mentioned yesterday and tomorrow, but his Question is about today.

Mr. Radice

Will my right hon. Friend tell the Prime Minister that the over whelming majority of Labour supporters are behind the Government's efforts to create an effective prices and incomes policy based on consent? Will he further inform my right hon. Friend that they would prefer decisive action this week rather than for the Government to be in a situation where they have to come back to the House for tougher policies in a few months' time?

Mr. Short

I am sure my hon. Friend is right, and I know that his remarks will commend themselves not only to the Labour Party but to people of good will throughout the whole country.

Mrs. Bain

Since the Prime Minister is visiting the capital of Scotland, will he use the opportunity to explain to the Scottish people the Government's backsliding in the establishment of a Scottish Assembly? Will he say whether this sliding away from that commitment by the Labour Government flows from the recent report of the Labour Party Research Department to the effect that the Labour Party can expect to lose a substantial number of seats to the SNP?

Mr. Short

I am sorry to say this to the hon. Lady, but she and her colleagues in the SNP talk the most awful nonsense. Every time anybody on the Labour benches mentions devolution, we are accused of backsliding. On the question of the Assembly, my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Privy Council Office yesterday gave a most categorical assurance. What more can we tell the hon. Lady? If she does not understand English words, I cannot do any more to help her. There is no backsliding.

Mr. Whitelaw

While the Prime Minister is in Scotland, will he explain to the Scottish people that any proposals which may come in a White Paper will represent a major constitutional change and will have to be carefully considered? I hope he will also explain to the Scottish people the cost of the proposals. Ts it not a fact that estimates of cost are very considerable indeed?

Mr. Short

No, Sir, the cost will not be considerable. [Interruption.] I am referring to the cost of devolving to the Scottish Assembly some of the decisions taken here. The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely correct to say that this is a major change in constitutional practice. I agree that the matter must be discussed at great length. There will be a White Paper in the autumn which we shall debate, and the Bill will appear later. I hope that there will be an opportunity for an extended debate in the House and outside. I share the right hon. Gentleman's view that there must be the widest discussion of these matters.