HC Deb 03 February 1966 vol 723 cc1274-5
34. Mr. Alison

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when the National Board for Prices and Incomes will complete its consideration of the proposal announced by brewers to increase the price of beer, which he has referred to the Board.

Mr. George Brown

The Board has been asked to report by the end of March.

Mr. Alison

Is the First Secretary aware that the Carlisle State Brewery put up the price of beer by a penny a pint as recently as last November without intervention by the Prices and Incomes Board? This is about a 10 per cent. increase. Will he cause the Carlisle State Brewery to reduce the price of beer by 1d. a pint pending the findings of the Board?

Mr. Brown

All my visits to the Carlisle State Brewery experiment—despite the fact that geographically, although not electorally, my constituency includes Burton—lead me to say that I think that it is a very good experiment indeed.

Hon. Members

Answer the question.

Mr. Alison

In view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.