HC Deb 19 April 1977 vol 930 cc22-4
Q1. Mr. Blaker

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings he has had with the Leader of the Liberal Party pursuant to the arrangements announced to the House on 23rd March.

Q5. Mr. Canavan

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings he has had with the Leader of the Liberal Party since 23rd March.

Q6. Mr. Rost

asked the Prime Minister when he last had a meeting with the Leader of the Liberal Party as a result of his announcement on 23rd March.

Q7. Mr. Skinner

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings he has had with the Leader of the Liberal Party in accordance with the recently announced arrangements.

The Prime Minister (Mr. James Callaghan)

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) on 5th April.

Mr. Blaker

Does the Prime Minister believe that the Leader of the Liberal Party has yet tumbled to the fact that since his party is keeping the Government in office it must share responsibility for the present alarming rate of price increases? Will he offer the Leader of the Liberal Party at least a crumb of comfort and say that he agrees with the forecast of the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection that the rate of price increase on an annual basis will fall to 12 per cent. to 13 per cent. by Christmas?

The Prime Minister

I have not discussed this matter with the Leader of the Liberal Party and therefore I do not believe that the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's question arises.

Mr. Alan Clark

Do not bother.

The Prime Minister

It would be unfair not to bother about it. As for retail prices, inflation is of course the major problem that this country has still to overcome. [Interruption.] I should be delighted to have some help from the Opposition. It is to this problem that the Government will continue to direct their attention.

What is quite clear is that in its discussions the Liberal Party is placing the national interest first. I hope that the Conservatives will do the same.

Mr. Rost

As the purpose of the coalition is to keep the Government in office longer than the electors want and longer than the national interest can afford, why is the Prime Minister putting up Labour candidates against his Liberal partners in the local elections?

The Prime Minister

It would be a bad day for democracy if the advent of the Gallup Poll, or any other poll, meant that the Government, half way through their term of office, should yield office on the basis of temporary unpopularity. [An HON. MEMBER: "It is not temporary."] It is temporary at the moment.

What is quite clear is that it would be unfair to expose the country to a General Election until the Opposition have made up their minds what their policies are in relation to incomes or, for example, the future of Leyland, on which there was some difference during the recess, or, indeed, until they have made up their minds as between China and Russia. It would not be fair to ask the country to decide on these issues until we know Conservative policy in some detail.

Mr. Skinner

Does my right hon Friend recall that in 1975—on 20th March, I believe—when we were on to free collective bargaining last time round, the Government introduced legislation that provided the Liberal Party, along with some other minority parties, a sum of £33,500 to oppose the Government? Now that the Liberal Party is rendering support one day and seemingly withdrawing it another, should it not go on half pay? Does the Prime Minister think that the taxpayers are getting value for their money?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. Not only am I certain that the taxpayers are getting value for money; I think that the Liberal allocation should now be doubled. After all, the allocation was given to the Liberals not to oppose the Government but to assist them in their work. Their work has now improved, and the quality has now improved. However, if there is to be any easing in the pay policy, clearly differentials should apply there.

Mr. David Steel

Is the Prime Minister aware that the Liberal Party supports the efforts, difficult though they may be for the Government, to get wage inflation and price inflation under control? In any meetings with the Leader of the Opposition, will the Prime Minister receive similar support from that quarter?

The Prime Minister

I have grave doubts about that. If the right hon. Lady came on her own I might, but what I fear is that she might be flanked by the right hon. Member for Leeds, North-East (Sir K. Joseph) and the right hon. Member for Lowestoft (Mr. Prior), with the right hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) popping up between the two of them. It really is time the Opposition told us what their policy on future incomes is.

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