HC Deb 16 December 1974 vol 883 cc1104-5
15. Miss Fookes

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what progress she is making with the extension to a wide variety of goods of the provision to sell them in prescribed standardised quantities.

Mr. Alan Williams

Formal consultations were opened last week on proposals relating to biscuits and shortbread. In the new year I also expect to be able to announce plans for wine sold both by the carafe and by the glass and for implementing the EEC range for chocolate bars.

Miss Fookes

I welcome these signs of progress, but my I ask the Minister to speed it up because we seem always to move at a snail's pace in these matters?

Mr. Williams

The hon. Lady is absolutely correct. It is frustrating for Government as well as Opposition. She will be aware of the contraints imposed by the 1963 Act which require consultation with all interested parties, so that the Department faces what are known as the "102 steps" which are necessary to prepare such a measure. The difficulty is that in the process of speeding up the orders, which will be long-lasting in their effect, if one cuts down the consultation one may do irreparable harm to an interest which one does not wish to damage.

Mr. Ward

In making such arrangements will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the problems of pensioners who have to buy small quantities to keep within their limited incomes?

Mr. Williams

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that matter. We are very conscious of it in the Department. The EEC has stressed this when ranges have been considered and has sought to have small sizes included.

Mr. Cormack

Will the hon. Gentleman accept that 39 steps are probably better than 102, and will he tell us how far he has got with unit pricing?

Mr. Williams

The hon. Gentleman and I have followed the saga of unit pricing for a long time. He will be aware that certain measures have been introduced since the Government came to office, and we are considering where else unit pricing would be appropriate. I think the hon. Gentleman shares the view of most of his hon. Friends and most of my colleagues that, in general, prescribed quantities are preferable, but these are instances where unit pricing is the only effective means of protection.