§ 3. Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many full-time civil servants in his Department are employed in checking price increases notified under the voluntary early warning system; and what increase this represents over the number employed before devaluation.
§ Mr. MellishThree officials are employed part time on this. There has been no increase in staff employed on this work since devaluation.
§ Mr. BiffenWithout commenting on the merits of this policy can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he expects price supervision responsibility for his Department to increase as a result of devaluation? Is he satisfied that three part-timers can adequately cope with the responsibility which his Department presumed to accept?
§ Mr. MellishThey seem to be doing all right. There are other Questions about devaluation and their costs. I think, with respect, that the hon. Gentleman might wait until we reach them, when I shall give him what I hope will be an adequate answer.