§ 14. Mr. Ioan L. Evansasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is satisfied with the results of the action taken by the soap and detergent manufacturers on the recommendations made to the industry by the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlbuMy right hon. Friend welcomed the action of the principal manufacturers last October in accepting the recommendations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes that prices of soap products and synthetic powders should not be increased before the end of 1966. He hopes they will go even further and make price reductions wherever possible. He has left the manufacturers in no doubt of his view that a reduction in advertising and promotional expenditure could help to make such reductions possible.
§ Mr. EvansIs not this a good example of the groundwork that can be done by the Prices and Incomes Board? Would the Board consider inviting the industry to report on all the many recommendations in this Report?
§ Mr. AlbuWe are certainly sorry that the manufacturers have not seen fit to carry out all the recommendations. We have made it very clear to them that we wish them to do so.