§ Q6. Mr. Freud asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 16th January.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Gardiner).
§ Mr. FreudIn the course of the Prime Minister's busy schedule, would he care to think back to the 1974 Labour Party manifesto, to the Queen's Speech in 1975, to the Queen's Speech in 1977 and to the Queen's Speech in 1978, and then come out with a warm welcome to the Official 1496 Information Bill which I propose to bring before the House on Friday?
§ The Prime MinisterWe seem to be interested in all other business coming before the House except my Questions. It may not discourage the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely (Mr. Freud) to know that the Government have it in mind not to oppose his Bill on Second Reading.
§ Mr. SkinnerReverting to the industrial situation, will the Prime Minister agree that one of the main reasons why we are being beset by minor industrial troubles from time to time is the implementation over a three-year period of an incomes policy? Will my right hon. Friend accept that the rank and file trade unionists are rebelling not only against the incomes policy as outlined by the Government and the TUC, but against the policy that has been pushed down their throats over the years by their immediate trade union leaders? Is it not fair to say that today the Prime Minister will have to review the situation?
§ The Prime MinisterI have been with the Cabinet reviewing the situation. There is a spasm through which the trade union movement and many workers in this country are going. But frankly, rebellion which does not acknowledge the facts will not result in an improved standard of life. That is the message that we must all get across. I repeat once again, as I have done constantly that wage settlements of 20 per cent., 25 per cent. and 30 per cent. are the road to inflationary ruin.