§ Q3. Mr. John Smithasked the Prime Minister if the public speech by the Home Secretary to the Association of Conservative Clubs on 23rd June 1973 on price increases represents the policy of the Government.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ Mr. SmithIs the Prime Minister aware that in his speech to the Association of Conservative Clubs on 23rd June the Home Secretary said:
Yes, prices have gone up horribly, in spite of all the action we have taken to limit the increases."?Does the Prime Minister agree with the Home Secretary?
§ The Prime MinisterI agreed with my right hon. Friend when he also went on to say:
But wages and pensions and social service benefits generally have gone up even faster. Wholly new social services and benefits have been introduced.It would have paid the hon. Gentleman to quote the whole paragraph.
Mr. Edward TaylorAs the Price Commission has restrained increased prices for prepackaged foodstuffs, where several applications have been refused, will my right hon. Friend take steps to ensure that no move towards the introduction of metric measures in prepacked foodstuffs will be allowed until it can be carefully monitored and rounding up and confusion can be prevented?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is a very important point that has been discussed with the food manufacturers. Of course, from the international point of view, which is important for exports—we have a very great interest in this—it is desirable in many ways that we should be able to export in metric terms. But if there is to be a change it is important that it should be governed in the way suggested by my hon. Friend.