HC Deb 08 November 1979 vol 973 c282W
43. Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the present level of high wage settlements will not have adverse inflationary consequences.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

In the short run, excessive pay increases will slow the rate at which the Government's policies bring down the rate of inflation. However, in the long run, pay increases which are not matched by improvements in productivity or efficiency must inevitably result in lost jobs and bankruptcies.