§ 34. Mr. Carterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will appoint an inter-Departmental committee to assess the total economic effects of decimalisation arising from price/measure changes.
§ Mr. CarterIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, after the Government have scrapped every protective body for the consumer, there is great concern in the country that, with decimalisation, retailers and others will take the opportunity to rob the public?
§ Mr. MacmillanI do not think that the hon. Gentleman has the slightest justification for making that accusation.
§ Mr. MolloyIf evidence is provided after decimalisation comes into force, will the Minister be prepared to retract that answer and let the House of Commons examine—he should give a lead—whether there is any wholesale cheating over decimalisation and advantage being taken of ordinary people?
§ Mr. MacmillanThe hon. Gentleman seems to forget that a large number of retailers are ordinary people. There is nothing disreputable about putting up prices on decimalisation if prices have been held down simply in order not to make two changes instead of one.