HC Deb 16 July 1970 vol 803 cc1707-9
18. Mr. Iremonger

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will abolish the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

23 and 40. Mr. John D. Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) what plans he has for the future of the National Board for Prices and Incomes and, in particular, in view of the Government's policy about inflation, whether he will obtain an early report from the Board on its retail prices reference, or an interim report;

(2) if he will make a statement regarding the successor to Mr. Aubrey Jones as Chairman of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

34. Mr. Tugendhat

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether he will make a statement on the future of the National Board for Prices and Incomes, in view of the fact that the contracts of the Chairman and eight other members, the statutory minimum, all expire at the end of October.

41. Mr. Raphael Tuck

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what plans he has for the future of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Mr. R. Carr

The future of the National Board for Prices and Incomes and its work is being actively considered and I shall be making an announcement in due course.

Mr. Iremonger

While considering this, will my right hon. Friend bear clearly in mind that if the people had wanted Socialism, they would have voted for it?

Mr. Carr

Certainly.

Mr. Grant

I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's difficulties in answering these Questions candidly at this stage, in view of the schizophrenia on his own Front Bench. However, he did not answer the second part of my Question relating to retail prices and the inquiry into retail prices being conducted by the Prices and Incomes Board.

Mr. Carr

At the moment, I am not proposing to ask for an interim report.

Mr. Tugendhat

When my right hon. Friend undertakes this examination of the work of the Prices and Incomes Board, will he also be able to make a statement as soon as possible on the proposed Commission for Industry and Manpower?

Mr. Carr

The proposed Commission for Industry and Manpower is a threat which has now been removed from the country, but we are reviewing all these matters and I will make a statement as soon as possible.

Mr. Golding

Who is to be responsible for scrutinising wage settlements in the nationalised industries? Who is to be responsible for deciding the criteria on which the settlements are to be judged? May we be told what type of action is to be taken and by whom if the Government decide that these settlements are too high?

Mr. Carr

In due course.

Mrs. Castle

While we are awaiting the outcome of these further deliberations, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether he agrees with the statement of the Council of the C.B.I. yesterday that it is essential that prices be allowed to rise?

Mr. Carr

As my hon. Friend has made clear and as history has proved, the encouragement of the maximum amount of competition, coupled with sufficient cash flow in industry to induce the maximum amount of new investment, are the best safeguard of the lowest possible prices.