§ 7. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the President of the Board of Trade why members of the public who respond to his invitation to report price increases which appear to need investigation are not informed of the result of his investigation of the complaints submitted by them.
§ Mr. JayThese reports have been very useful but, as was made clear when they were invited, it would not have been practicable to inform each individual correspondent of the results of investigations.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterHow on earth does the right hon. Gentleman imagine that he can keep the co-operation of the public if, when people try to co-operate and help him, he does not even tell them whether, in the event, their complaints have been justified? How are they to know whether he has done anything at all?
§ Mr. JayHon. Members opposite are constantly advising and urging us to employ fewer officials in the Government service. In this case, if we were to do all that the right hon. Gentleman requires, we should have to employ a lot more people than we do at present. I think that we have achieved the right balance, and I assure the right hon. Gentleman that action is taken, if on some occasions a letter is not written as well.