§ Mr. Warrenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's estimate of the increase in the number of unemployed people over the next 12 months arising from the return to free collective bargaining: and if this matter was discussed with the TUC before his statement on 15th July in the House.
§ Mr. Joel Barnett,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28th July 1977], gave the following information:
My right hon. Friend has said on many occasions that reducing the rate of inflation to the level of our main trading partners is crucial to our economic prospects, including the prospects for employment. The objective of the Government's guidance on pay settlements in the year ahead is therefore to ensure that the national earning increase is consistent with reducing inflation below 10 per cent well before this time next year.