§ Q5. Mr. Duffyasked the Prime Minister if he expects to meet the CBI before the meeting of Heads of State and Governments on the international economic situation taking place in Paris on 15th November.
§ The Prime MinisterI did so on 27th October, Sir.
§ Mr. DuffyIf my right hon. Friend gets another opportunity, will he impress upon the CBI, as he did on his audience last night, the fact that, notable though Britain's export achievement has been so far this year, even greater export opportunities will be presented by world 1137 trade recovery, and that Britain is better placed than many of her competitors to take advantage of them?
§ The Prime MinisterOne has to go back quite a while to find a period in which our proportion of world trade has increased. Although there have been many difficulties in world markets, in my view—indeed, I said this last night in Guildhall—when world trade picks up, we are in a stronger position than we have been for many years to take advantage of the increased opportunities abroad.
§ Mr. HurdIs it not becoming clear that no one in the CBI or abroad will take the Government's new industrial strategy seriously if their first action under it is to prop up a proven failure like Chrysler?
§ The Prime MinisterThe CBI and the TUC take these proposals very seriously, and I hope that the House will, as well. It was a very important meeting that we had at Chequers. Although there were differences between the CBI and the TUC, and between both of them and the Government, they accepted the objectives, as the House has been told, and welcomed the proposals that we have put forward. As for Chrysler, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will recognise that, for reasons given in the House already by my right hon. Friend and myself, it is better at this stage to say nothing at all—[Interruption.] We are talking about the jobs of many thousands of people, which at any rate my hon. Friends who represent the affected constituencies and some hon. Members opposite take as a serious issue. I had hoped that it would be possible to say something before Prorogation. I do not think now that it will be, but the Government will make a statement to the House as early as possible. Certainly, the situation that we have been presented with is something which, I am sure, when all the facts are known, will turn out to be distasteful to hon. Members in all parts of the House.