HC Deb 04 April 1974 vol 871 cc413-4W
Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) what proposals she has to protect consumers against increased prices of sweets;

(2) what proposals she has to protect consumers against increased prices of ice cream;

(3) what proposals she has to protect the consumer against increased prices of wines;

(4) what proposals she has to protect the consumer against increased prices of spirits;

(5) what proposals she has to protect consumers against increased prices of chocolate confectionery;

(6) what proposals she has to protect the public against increased prices of bread rolls and loaves other than the standard loaf;

(7) what proposals she has to protect consumers against increased charges for rail freight carriage;

(8) what proposals she has to protect consumers against increased prices of rail travel;

(9) what proposals she has to protect consumers against increased prices of beer;

(10) what proposals she has to protect the consumer against increased prices of steel;

(11) what proposals she has to protect private consumers against increased prices of petrol;

(12) what proposals she has to protect consumers against increased prices of cigarettes;

(13) what proposals she has to protect consumers against increased prices of tobacco;

(14) what proposals she has to protect consumers against increased prices of telephone calls;

(15) what proposals she has to protect the consumer against increases in the price of postage;

(16) what proposals she has to protect industrial consumers against increases in the price of coal;

(17) what proposals she has to protect consumers against increased prices of electricity.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

My proposals for tightening the price code, including some reductions in distributors' gross margins, were announced on 25th March. The new Prices Bill was introduced yesterday and includes provision for the payment of food subsidies and for improvements in price marking.

While I have a general responsibility for consumer protection, and the measures I have proposed will help all consumers, there are for nationalised industries established, and in most cases statutory, arrangements for taking account of consumers' interests: the principal ministerial responsibility for these arrangements, as for nationalised industry prices, lies with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Environment, Energy, Industry, Scotland and Trade.