§ 3.44 p.m.
§ THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE FOR THE ROYAL AIR FORCE (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, with your Lordships' permission I should like to repeat a Statement, made in reply to a Question, which is being made by my right honourable friend the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs in another place, on progress in developing a policy for prices and incomes. The Statement is as follows: "As the House will be aware, I and my colleagues have been discussing this subject with representatives of the trade unions and of management since the day we came to power. I am glad to say that we have to-day reached agreement on the terms of a joint statement setting out the principles on which a prices and incomes policy should be 461 developed and expressing the willingness of the organisations concerned to co-operate with the Government in the task of giving practical effect to the agreed intentions!.
"We shall be meeting together to sign the Statement formally in a few hours' time. I will make copies of the Statement available in the Vote Office later this afternoon" it will be in your Lordships' Printed Paper Office— "and will also circulate the text in the Official Report.
"I think that the House will feel with me that: he sense of national purpose and the spirit of mutual confidence reflected in this Agreement are most exciting. This is, of course, only the first step. Hut to have taken that is tremendous and we shall lose no time in entering into the next stage of discussions with trade union and management representatives. To-day's agreement provides the foundation on which a fair and effective policy for prices and incomes can be developed and without which our economy cannot become strong."
§ Following is the text of the joint statement: