HC Deb 24 July 1975 vol 896 cc769-70
Q3. Mr. Tebbit

asked the Prime Minister if he has received an invitation to speak at the next TUC conference.

Mr. Edward Short

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir.

Mr. Tebbit

When the Prime Minister receives an invitation, and when he goes, will he bear in mind the words he used on 24th January 1972 in this House, when he referred to my right hon. Friend the Member for Sidcup (Mr. Heath) as the first dole-queue millionaire to cross the Channel since Neville Chamberlain? Will the Lord President remind us what are the dole queue figures today, and on which side of the Channel is his right hon. Friend?

Mr. Short

The difference is that today we are at the bottom of a world recession. When the unemployment figures topped the million mark under the Government of which the right hon. Lady the Leader of the Opposition was a member not long ago, there was no world recession.

Mr. Faulds

Will my right hon. Friend arrange to have an invitation extended from the TUC to the right hon. Lady the Leader of the Opposition to address its next conference, whereupon she might find that she had to address herself to the real problems of the country instead of making snide and bitchy remarks?

Mr. Short

That is a very attractive idea. For once I agree with my hon. Friend. I am sure that the TUC will take note of the suggestion. It will make a nice change for the right hon. Lady from the usual country-house circuit.