§ Q3. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Prime Minister if he will dismiss the Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not intend to appoint or dismiss any Minister unless and until I make an announcement to the contrary.
§ Mrs. ShortIs the Prime Minister aware that the public see the Minister and the Price Commission as part of the "phoney" façade that he has erected to try to con the public into believing that he is doing something for the consumer? Is he aware that since it was set up the Price Commission has cost the British housewife more than £200 million in rising prices? Is he aware that when he ventures forth to meet the housewives the Minister does nothing but insult them? Will the right hon. Gentleman therefore dismiss both the Minister and the Price Commission and take over these responsibilities himself?
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot agree with the hon. Lady.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimWould not my right hon. Friend agree that, far from being dismissed, my right hon. and learned Friend deserves the congratulations of the whole House and the country for introducing more measures for the protection of the consumer than have ever been introduced in one Session of Parliament? As the Molony Committee made it perfectly clear that prices were not an issue in consumer protection, is not the hon. Lady's question both misdirected and ill-informed?
§ The Prime MinisterI absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. The legislation which has been introduced by the present Government has often been demanded by Opposition Members. They were not able to introduce it themselves, and now they ought to give my right hon. and learned Friend the credit for doing so.