HC Deb 12 June 1980 vol 986 c271W
Mr. Robert Sheldon

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Carshalton (Mr. Forman), Official Report, 19 June 1979, column 1112, if she will now state what action she has taken to set up an economic forum.

The Prime Minister

I said in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton on 13 November 1979 that I hoped that discussions of economic matters could be pursued principally through the National Economic Development Council which embraces the Government, CBI, TUC and other important interests. Since then the Council has taken the initiative of holding wide-ranging discussions of economic policy, priorities and constraints on three occasions and is due to hold a further discussion on Monday 16 June. I believe that all the participants have found these discussions helpful, and we hope that they will continue on a regular basis.