§ Q21. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Prime Minister whether he will now make a statement on his recent discussions with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress.
§ Q28. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the consultations which he has had and which he proposes to undertake with the Trades Union Congress on the question of inflation and industrial relations.
§ The Prime MinisterAs to my talks with the TUC, I would refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on 6th July to a Question from the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis). As to the CBI, together with my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of422W State for Employment, I met their representatives on 10th July. I acknowledged the major contribution which the CBI price restraint scheme has made to reducing the rise in the cost of living, and expressed the hope that the CBI would be able to extend it beyond the end of July.
At these meetings I invited the TUC and the CBI to join the Government in an urgent examination of how best to achieve the common objectives of faster economic growth, a higher level of employment and a steady rise in real earnings without price inflation. In the Answer I gave earlier today to a Question from the hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon), I described the arrangements I am making for this examination to proceed.—[Vol. 840, c. 207.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether, during his forthcoming talks with the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry on wage demands and inflation, he will also discuss the question of prices, profits and dividends and issue an appeal for a control of same.
§ The Prime MinisterI am prepared to discuss any question which has a bearing on the problem of cost inflation.