The benefits of free competition
Q
Do you believe that Adam Smith 's edict that “free competition in a free market will always produce the widest distribution of wealth” is still true today and that monopolies (state, trade union or private) work against the interest of society?
Do you believe that Constitutional reforms are needed and that the following would be good ideas?
A written constitution supervised by a judiciary separately from the Government.
Proportional representation.
Replacement of the House of Lords, with members elected on a regional basis.
An elected Head of State representing the Monarch in the exercise of executive powers.
Voting should be considered a responsibility as well as a right and be made compulsory.
A referendum should be held on Northern Ireland which states: “Do you wish to remain part of the U.K.?” If the answer is Yes, we employ tactics similar to those used successfully in Malaya, and if No, we sell Northern Ireland to Eire. Do you consider this to be a solution to the problems in Northern Ireland?
R. Atherton.
Marlowe Gardens,
Eltham High Street.
A
Mr. Atherton has certainly set us some problems. I certainly believe that free competition within a framework of sound law is, in general, the best way of running an economy and that it is likely to make most people most prosperous.
I also believe that all monopolies are potentially dangerous.
Constitutional reform must first be discussed between all the political parties. If, as I suspect, Mr. Atherton has in mind the possibility of a Bill of Rights guaranteeing essential freedoms, it is a proposal which deeply interests me, though we must be careful to protect the authority of Parliament.
I certainly do not fancy the idea of an elected Head of State to represent the Monarch in the exercise of the functions which she so admirably performs herself.
I am totally opposed to the Labour Party objective of abolishing the House of Lords. It is a vital bulwark against constitutional excess and needs to be made more effective in that role.
A referendum was held on Northern Ireland in 1973 and revealed an overwhelming majority in favour of the union.
We pledge that Ulster will remain in the UK so long as her people want to.
Q
Several months ago a petition was submitted to the House dealing with retirement at 60 for men. Since then the silence has been deafening.
I am sure the million signatories will be interested: Will any of the Parties include in their manifesto an undertaking to bring in a Bill dealing with this political hot potato? A simple Yes or No would suffice.
L. Sweetman,
Oxhey Road,
Watford,
Herts.
A
I am determined not to make promises which we can't afford. The hard truth is that to lower the age at which men can draw retirement pensions at 60 would cost £2,800 million a year.
The money is just not there and nor would we raise that amount by higher tax or social security contributions.
Q
Your plans to denationalise British Airways and sell off some state industries are fair enough. But why not the Coal Board, London Transport the Post Office and the Railways?
Shouldn't they sink or swim like all other businesses?
G. Brongard,
Days Lane,
Sidcup,
Kent.
A
Mr. Brongard is plainly a “root and branch” man and I, or course, have some sympathy with his feelings. But a responsible government does not suddenly change the whole economy. We shall stop further nationalisation.
At present nobody can say what the relative proportion of State and private ownership of British industry or any part of it should be.
We shall not deliberately preserve State monopolies when there is no justification for them: but what matters in the immediate future is that firms remaining in State hands should as far as possible be run within the strict financial disciplines which prevail in private industry.
And this we shall ensure.