HC Deb 27 March 1969 vol 780 cc336-7W
38. Mr. Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the progress made on nearly all the items summarised in The Check-list of Action, in the new planning document, why the growth in output in the first five of the six National Plan years is estimated to be just over half the Plan target.

Mr. Shore

The main reason for a slower rate of growth has been because of the continuing problem of the balance of payments. This is why the Economic Assessment to 1972 gives first priority to a substantial surplus in assessing future economic possibilities.