Oral Answers to Questions — Industrial and Political Affairs (Prime Minister's Speech)

– in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 13 Rhagfyr 1973.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Dennis Skinner Dennis Skinner , Bolsover 12:00, 13 Rhagfyr 1973

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on industrial and political affairs at Nelson on 23rd November.

Photo of Mr Edward Heath Mr Edward Heath , Bexley

I did so on 27th November.

Photo of Dennis Skinner Dennis Skinner , Bolsover

Does the Prime Minister remember that in the speech that he made on that date he referred to the miners' dispute which had just commenced—the overtime ban? Does he also recall that only three weeks prior to that speech he stood at the Dispatch Box and blamed a £2,000 million deficit on the balance of payments, a 40 per cent. increase in food prices, and a 13 per cent. minimum lending rate, and all that goes with that, not on the miners but on world prices and the weather? Does not it take a Prime Minister with a split mind to change in such a short time?

Photo of Mr William Clark Mr William Clark , East Surrey

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is the avowed intention of the Communist Party to cripple the capitalist system? Would it not therefore be a good idea to publish a list of those people within the trade union movement who have Communist affiliations, so that the silent majority in the trade union movement can realise what sort of people are leading them?

Photo of Mr Edward Heath Mr Edward Heath , Bexley

I should not have thought there was any doubt among politicians about the real purpose of the Communist Party. As regards the second part of the question, I think that this information is available to everyone who studies these matters.