[tion rather than replacing the system. But financing…]

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tion rather than replacing the system.

But financing the expansion by borrowing will raise inflation, throwing the burden on the working class. Increased taxation on the rich is proposed, including a wealth tax for assets over £150,000, but the effect on revenue is marginal.

The financiers will make a fortune lending to the state, and industrialists faced with the resulting high interest rates and world slump are unlikely to rush into expansion.

If purchasing power does rise, manufacturers will probably take advantage to raise prices.

With such inflationary speed-up, etc. Workers will be expected to accept this on the basis that they will receive through revamped planning agreements the right to 'plan' their more efficient exploitation, and because their' firm will get state assistance:

ng A Department of Economic and Industrial Planning will be set up along with a Cabinet Committee and a tripartite National Planning Council. The government will bring its proposals to the NPC for discussion. A five year plan including sectoral targets will be drawn up to be disly in line with a National Economic Assessment. • The sectoral targets would be implemented through Agreed Development Plans drawn up by the Planning Department and leading companies.

A major weakness of this strategy is its separation of economics and politics. The emphasis is on gaining the co-operation of the bosses.

The Planning Department will be given a number of largely ineffectual powers like price controls, credit controls, import controls, etc., to induce cooperation, but the power to nationalise recalcitrant firms is mentioned almost as a footnote:, The only place where mobilisation of the working their attempts to organise on an international basis.

Jobless Nowhere is the perspective of aiming for cooperation with the bosses clearer than in the section 'Jobs for all who want them' • It speaks of extending the Temporary Short Time Working Scheme, which has provided rich pickings for the bosses, and of introducing a host of other subsidies to the bosses for taking workers on, setting up new firms, giving early retirement, etc. . *The Community Enterprise Project Scheme will be extended.

*A reduction of the working week including a 35 hour week without loss of *More flexible working so parents can share the responsibility of caring for dependents.

*Extension of protection to part time workers.

The Programme proposes to extend the long term rate of Supplementary Benefit to the unemployed after a year on the dole, as an interim measure before making unemployment benefit last as long as unemployment.

Increases in Suppleco-habitation rule exists, it must not be administered too harshly.

The Youth Training Scheme will continue. Labour proposes to increase the basic allowance to a mere £30 a week (1982 prices), rising in line with average earnings. However Labour i will encourage youth to join trade unions; and allow unions to negotiate contracts for their members on MSC courses.

Such trainees would then havé the status of The Youth Training Scheme will contini - Labour proposes 1 increase the basic allowance to a mere £30 a week.

It will be up to youth to organise themselves into unions and take action to get a der wage.

Positive action is proposed to encourage women to train and apply for better paid jobs. The public sector will initiate Positive Action Initiatives, including a Positive Action Resolution in contracts with outside firms. Other policies include the MSC training women for areas where they are under-represented and possibly a statutory services for the old and disabled, shorter and more flexible hours are seen as a way of changing the division of labour in the home.

*The married man's tax allowance to be phased out over 3 years.

*Child Benefit to rise to $7.25 as soon as possible (1982 prices), and eventually to the level for long. term National Insurance Benefit.

*One Parent Benefit to be developed.

In Health care:

JOHN HARRIS.

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Callaghan and Murray greet the anti-picketing provisions of their 1979 "Concordat" CH replaced by a supposedly (It is 16 f or non-gays). to forbid private from charging fees. withdrawal.

The Programme states in many instances • that 'Labour will carry out this or that policy. As in the past, we must doubt whether many of the policies outlined will ever see the light of day under a Labour government. Already Tony Benn has warned that Foot and Healey are trying to prevent the Programme being discussed and voted on as a whole at Annual Conference.

Interestingly, outgoing General Secretary, Ron Hayward, has gone into great length in his Foreword to the Programme in explaining the relationship between the Programme and the Manifesto. " the priorities which will determine the Manifesto at the next election will need to be finalised at that time based on the relevance, costs, timing, and legislative time available over a five year Parliament."

It is amazing how fast legislation like the Preven-