§ Sir C. Osborneasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the publicly declared opposition to Her Majesty's Government's prices and incomes policy by the Transport and General Workers' Union, what other trade unions have pledged their support to this policy; if he is satisfied that enough trade union support will be forthcoming to make the policy work; what plans he has made to meet widespread opposition; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RodgersAt its meeting on the 27th July, the General Council of the T.U.C. acquiesced in the Government's142W proposals for a prices and incomes standstill. I am confident that the majority of trade unionists will follow the example and advice of the T.U.C. and will co-operate to make the policy work on a voluntary basis. The proposed statutory powers in the Prices and Incomes Bill to enforce restraint on increases in prices or incomes are intended to ensure that the selfish minority do not benefit at the expense of those who are co-operating. The White Paper (Cmnd. 3073) sets out the arrangements for implementing the standstill.