§ Mr. Staintonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what basis of economic/financial projections and considerations he has considered it appropriate to set the TUC a six-week deadline for tightening up the social contract as opposed to, say, three or nine weeks;
(2) whether, in setting the TUC a six-week deadline for the tightening up of the social contract, he took into consideration the fact that this period coincides with the normal Adjournment of the House for the Summer Recess; and if he will take steps to lay developments before Parliament and make it his policy to avoid the situation where the House is presented with a fait accompli in these matters.
§ Mr. DellThe urgency of the situation requires decisions at the very latest by the end of July and preferably sooner. This would be consistent with parliamentary consideration before the Summer Recess.