HC Deb 31 March 1969 vol 781 cc19-20
20. Miss Harvie Anderson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the total cost of gathering the information and of printing and publishing Command Paper No. 3858 of December, 1968.

Mr. Harold Walker

I regret the information is not available. It would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time to cost separately one of the Board's many concurrent investigations.

Miss Anderson

Is the cost which must be involved justified by the conclusions in this case? Is this not yet another example of how public money is being expended most unwisely at a time of economic stringency? Could not the house- wife have done this more effectively for the hon. Gentleman?

Mr. Walker

On the contrary, right hon. and hon. Members in all parts of the House have repeatedly pressed the Government on prices and the need to investigate some margins. The original reference made to the Board was because, as its terms stated, the Government believe that an examination in this area of costs and margins would be helpful to the development of the policy. We are amply satisfied that the outcome has justified this belief.