§ 50 and 51. Sir C. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) in view of the fact that when the Trades Union Congress were co-operating with the Government of 1945–51 on wage restraint 38W the issues were discussed at every level of the trade union movement, if he will adopt this as the policy of Her Majesty's Government and recommend it to the Council during the present talks in the National Economic Development Council; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what conditions the Trades Union Congress representatives at the National Economic Development Council laid down for joining in an agreed incomes policy; what was his reply; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe Government's declared policy is to co-operate with the trades unions and with management in discussion of policies favourable to faster economic growth. This we have been doing in the National Economic Development Council and incomes policy is one of the most important subjects being considered. The Council has not yet reached agreement on this very difficult problem, but it has accepted from the start that this is a necessary part of its task. It would not be right for me to add to the account of the discussion which has been given on the authority of the Council.