§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Prime Minister, in the light of the statement in paragraph 27 of the joint statement by the TUC and the Government, dated February 1979, that there should be a national economic assessment by the Government and both sides of industry before Easter each year, and following his assurance to the hon. Member for Nottingham West (Mr. English) on 15 February that the first such assessment will take place in the current year, whether the 1979 assessment has yet begun; and when it will be completed; and when it will be placed before the House.
§ The Prime MinisterDiscussions leading to the first national economic assessment will take place as soon as practicable; as the joint statement makes clear, it is the intention to complete the assessment before Easter. It is not yet possible to answer the last part of the hon. Member's question.