Debate on the Address [First Day]

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 9 November 1965.

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Photo of Mr James Hamilton Mr James Hamilton , Fermanagh and South Tyrone 12:00, 9 November 1965

I thought that I had made that quite clear. I am talking of primary education at this stage. Once people come into the profession the opportunity can be given them to take their degrees, with the assistance of the Government or the local authorities. In our schools we have men with degrees who do not have the necessary finance to allow them to go to a training college for the necessary 12 months' training. As a consequence we are losing valuable men from the teaching profession.

Reference has been made to the National Plan. I have been concerned with the implications of the National Plan at Parliamentary level and at trade union level, and I have even had discussions about it with employers. We must agree that since 1939 every Government without exception have attempted to plan our economy. The workers in industry have now reluctantly decided to accept this. The difference is that in 1961, when we had a very serious recession, there was a cut back in investments, the introduction of the wages pause and, at the same time, a gift of £80 million to the Surtax payers. With this fact firmly inculcated in their minds our workers were not prepared to accept a planning of the economy at that time.

Let us be honest and make an appreciation. If one were a worker in industry and realised that the Government were taking that sort of approach, would one give that Government the co-operation for which they ask? Under the present Administration, not only will prices be taken care of—at least they are attempting to do something in that respect—and wages dealt with, but salaries as well. I am convinced that if everyone—the Government, the trade unions and the industrialists—showed a keen desire to put the best foot forward, the 25 per cent. increase in productivity by 1970 will become a reality.