§ Mr. Edward ShortI have been asked to reply.
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply —[HON. MEMBERS: "Speak up."] I think that probably the microphone is not working. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) on 22nd July.
§ Mr. CryerWhen my right hon. Friend meets the TUC, will he be able to explain how the Government's measures are reducing income and thereby reducing demand, and are likely to increase the already very serious unemployment figures? What will the Government do about activating the National Enterprise 768 Board to increase investment and reduce unemployment? How long will the Government prop up ailing capitalism at the expense of workers' jobs? Will my right hon. Friend urge the Prime Minister to concentrate on those urgent economic matters instead of joining in the campaign of vilification and abuse which has been going on over the past few days against members of the Newham Labour Party? Will he tell him that his intervention was both deeply resented and clearly unproductive?
§ Mr. ShortThe National Enterprise Board will be activated as soon as the Bill receives Royal Assent. With regard to discussions with the TUC, my hon. Friend will recall that the policy is one agreed and initiated by the TUC.
§ Mr. HurdHave not today's unemployment figures been greeted with particular dismay precisely because of all the foolish rhetoric of the Prime Minister and his colleagues that this could not happen under a Labour Government? Is not the only chance of acceptance of the new policy to say clearly that because of old policies there will certainly be much higher unemployment even than we have seen today, and much higher prices in the months to come?
§ Mr. ShortMy right hon. Friend and many of my hon. Friends have warned about the effect of inflation on employment over the last few months. As I have said, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment will be making a statement on the figures at the end of Questions today.
§ Mr. William HamiltonDoes my right hon. Friend recognise that some of us are becoming very tired of the attempt to make cheap party political points about the current situation, whether it be unemployment or inflation? Will he confirm that the reason why the TUC has agreed to co-operate with the Government in their current policies is that it recognises the truth of the statements of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister that one man's wage increase is another man's price increase, and also his prospects for the dole queue?
§ Mr. ShortMy hon. Friend is absolutely correct. I hope that the whole House will pay tribute to the courage 769 and statesmanship of the TUC in this matter.
§ Mrs. ThatcherIs the Lord President aware that we have some sympathy with him over the frequency with which he has had to reply for the Prime Minister in recent weeks, and particularly today when there is such bad news about the unemployment figures? Is it true that not only is the Prime Minister absent today but that he intends to be away on Tuesday and Thursday of next week as well?