§ 27. Mr. David Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now his estimate of the rate of price inflation for the current financial year.
§ Mr. DiamondIt is not customary to give quantitative forecasts of the general movement of prices.
§ Mr. HowellWhether or not it is the custom, how is it that Ministers, and particularly the Prime Minister, are prepared to go around making unfounded accusations about likely inflation under the imminent Tory Government when prices have risen by 25 per cent. since 1966 under the Socialists?
§ Mr. DiamondThe hon. Gentleman did not in the Question raise any of those points. If he wants to challenge points made by any speaker he should put down a Question, whereupon he will receive an Answer.
§ Mr. William HamiltonIs my right hon. Friend aware that the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) has continually applied pressure to increase the price of apples to the housewife, that the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Jopling) has consistently—indeed only last week—asked for the highest prices possible for meat, and that existing Tory policy on agriculture would put up the prices of foodstuffs all along the line for housewives?
§ Mr. DiamondMy experience is that I cannot spend a whole day in this House without at least one hon. Gentleman opposite suggesting something which would inevitably involve increases in public expenditure.