HL Deb 28 May 1970 vol 310 cc1172-4

2.54 p.m.

BARONESSS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, with the leave of the House I should like to repeat a Statement which is being made in another place by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. The Statement is as follows:

"My right honourable friend the Prime Minister and I met representatives of the medical and dental professions this morning. They put to us in the strongest terms their view that the publication of the Report should not be delayed until after the General Election.

"My right honourable friend and I reaffirmed the Government view that the Report and the Government decisions on it should be published simultaneously. But in view of the strength of the representations made by the professions, we informed them that the date of publication, with the announcement of the Government's decisions would be brought forward to Thursday, June 4. "The representatives of the professions then sought, to use their own words, 'an unequivocal assurance that the Government would not in its decisions in any way modify the Kindersley recommendations either by phasing or by reducing the totality of the award.'

"My right honourable friend, in reply, stressed that the Government had not yet completed its consideration of what is an extremely complex Report and that he could not agree to give any indication of the Government's decisions before publication on June 4."

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Baroness for making that rather unexpected Statement. The "usual channels" seem to have broken down on this occasion. I am beginning to expect it: I understand that the noble Lord had some trouble yesterday at Transport House, so perhaps this is just another indication of the way things happen. May I just ask the noble Baroness one question? Do I understand from the Statement that there is to be another meeting on June 4, or after June 4? Or what is going to happen after publication?

BARONESSS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, I should think that there will be a meeting after publication. What I am announcing is the publication—the advancing of the date of the publication and the Government's decisions. I do apologise if the "usual channels" broke down.

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, I am not complaining about that, but after the publication presumably something is going to happen. I was asking, what is going to happen after publication?

BARONESSS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, we do not know. That is between the Government and the B.M.A.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, perhaps I may apologise to the noble Lord. We do try our best, sometimes in difficult circumstances, and I realise that he is not complaining too much. I did not understand his reference to communication between me and Transport House yesterday morning, because I was in New-foundland.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, I should like to ask the noble Baroness for clarification and to thank her for making the Statement. Actually I did know about it, because I asked whether there was to be one. May I ask exactly what is going to happen next Thursday? Are we going to get the publication and the Government's decision on that day? I am not clear about it.

BARONESSS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, the B.M.A. have asked for an unequivocal assurance that the Government would not in their decisions in any way modify the Kindersley Report. The answer is that the Government have not yet completed their considerations and could not agree to give any indications of their decisions before publication on June 4. I think noble Lords will get them both together.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, I understand that. Are we therefore going to get the publication of the Report and the publication of the Government decision on it?

BARONESSS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

Yes, my Lords.