§ Sir John Eden (Bournemouth, West)I beg to move,
That this House, welcoming the increase in manufacturing production, the greater activity in the construction industry, the brighter prospects for the car industry, the lower level of inflation and the lower interest rates, and congratulating the Government, in the face of the deepest economic recession the world has experienced since the war, on its courageous and continuing determination to secure lasting and sustainable growth in new job opportunities, calls on all trade union leaders now to demonstrate their sense of responsibility and concern for their members' best interests by exercising greater moderation in pay demands, encouraging further improvements in productivity and resisting disruptive, politically-motivated calls for unnecessary and costly strike action.This is something of a compendium of a motion in that it refers, first, to noticeable signs of improvement which have been taking place in the economy and, secondly, to the undoubted responsibility of trade union leaders for the well-being of their members and to the way in which that responsibility can best be discharged. In many ways the motion is a natural follow-up to the previous debate. I did not have an opportunity to hear all the speeches in that debate, but I have no doubt that many hon. Members will have urged consideration for a higher level of remuneration for those employed, not only in manufacturing industry, but in various forms of work around the country.I hold strongly to the view that levels of remuneration should have greater accord to the ability of the company in which people are employed to meet the bill. Obviously it follows that the more competitive the company, the greater will be the return and the greater therefore will be the company's opportunity to pay good wages to its employees. Anything that disrupts the competitiveness of a company will damage the pay of those who work for it. That is why I feel strongly that the politically motivated strikes which are too often inflicted upon us all have done lasting damage not only to the reputation of manufacturers and industry but to the well-being and best interests of those who work in those companies.
It is for that reason that I move the motion. I hope that the House will eventually give it approval. The signs are that inflation is being held steady, interest rates are coming down, and other advantages are—
§ It being half-past Two o'clock, the debate stood adjourned.