Competitiveness

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:30 pm on 22 May 1995.

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Photo of John Butterfill John Butterfill , Bournemouth West 3:30, 22 May 1995

Does my right hon. Friend accept that Conservative members of the Select Committee on Trade and Industry greatly welcome the energy and enthusiasm with which he has addressed many of its recommendations and especially his commitment to assist many more small businesses to become exporters? Does he, however, agree that the single most damaging thing that we could do and which would reduce our competitiveness would be to adopt a national minimum wage? Does he therefore share my hope that the recent reported statements of the Leader of the Opposition that he does not now intend to proceed with a national minimum wage will not be diverted by his trade union bosses?