§ Q7. Mr. James Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on his meeting with the TUC on Wednesday 14th February.
§ Q8. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement concerning his meeting with TUC leaders at 10 Downing Street on 14th February 1973.
§ Q11. Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his official meeting with the TUC on Wednesday 14th February.
§ Mr. R. CarrI have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister asked the TUC General Council for its co-operation in fighting inflation. He emphasised the damage that could be done to the country by people taking up fixed positions which could do harm to the whole nation; and he pointed out how many of the points urged on the Government by the trade union movement had already been met.
He reminded the TUC that the proposals for stage 2 allowed a substantial increase in wages, on average between 7 and 8 per cent. and said that he would welcome discussions on the next stages of the counter-inflation policy with the TUC and the CBI which could cover ways of making progress within the policy for stage 3 in dealing with anomalies and inequities. He explained that there need 416W be no delay in setting in hand consideration of these cases by the Pay Board but he made it clear that, in the interests of containing inflation, there was no prospect that the Government could contemplate any modification or exception to the proposed pay limit under stage 2.