HC Deb 07 July 1966 vol 731 c644
3. Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a further statement on the extent to which the Government have now reviewed with industry the use of clauses providing for the automatic adjustment of prices to wage increases in contracts for printing, and for other goods and services; with what industries; in relation to what goods and services; and with what result.

The Minister of State, Department of Economic Affairs (Mr. Austen Albu)

I have nothing to add to the answer given on 5th May by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to a similar Question by the hon. Member.

Mr. Jenkin

Does not the hon. Gentleman recognise that this is a deplorable state of affairs? Does not he recognise, also, that this will develop into a pattern as one Ministry after another refuses to take any action in response to the recommendations made by the Prices and Incomes Board? If the Minister of State's own Ministry does this, what possibility is there of anybody else paying any attention to the Board's recommendations?

Mr. Albu

The hon. Member is wrong. We are taking immediate action in this matter. It is a very complicated subject, and it concerns other industries besides the printing industry. The C.B.I. is already discussing the matter, and we shall be having discussions with it on the subject.