HC Deb 08 April 1965 vol 710 cc649-50
24. Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will refer the recent increases in the prices of certain national newspapers to the price review body.

Mr. George Brown

No decisions have yet been taken on the cases to be referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Mr. Jenkin

Does the First Secretary of State recognise that certain popular newspapers have had the largest percentage price increases in the last twelve years of almost anything but that at the same time their quality has increased? This shows the futility of this whole exercise.

Mr. Brown

I presume the hon. Gentleman means the exercise of publishing newspapers, but I am not called upon to pronounce upon that.