§ 40. Mr. David Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the working of the rule as it affects price levels whereby price increases in the wine trade are notified to his department; and what is his estimate of the sum which the prices and incomes policy has saved 483 the consuming public in respect of wine and wine-based products.
§ Mr. HoyMy right hon. Friend is satisfied with the way in which the special early warning arrangements for wine are working; and there is no evidence of any unjustified price increase. It would be impracticable to try to quantify the effect of this, or any other, early warning arrangement.
§ Mr. MitchellDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that the more successful the policy is, the greater will be the increase in consumers' purchasing power, the greater the imports, and the worse for our balance of payments?
§ Mr. HoyWhat we have been doing is to try to keep matters in check. It is true that consumer expenditure on wine is rising. That rise is caused by the rise in taxation and, frankly, by the amount of wine being consumed.