HC Deb 08 July 1974 vol 876 cc925-6
6. Mr. Silvester

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many, and which, of the commodities announced to be on permanent promotion under the voluntary agreement with food retailers have been on offer during the past few months.

The Under-Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (Mr. Robert Maclennan)

Neither the Government nor the trade keeps a central record of promotional offers but it is probable that, along with other less essential items, they have all been on temporary offer at various times.

Mr. Silvester

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of advertisements put out by certain retailers purporting to suggest that the offers being made are as a result of Government policies when those offers have been on more or less permanent display as part of the retailer's previous advertising over a long period of time? As I am sure he would not wish to mislead the housewife, may I ask him to take early action about this?

Mr. Maclennan

It appears to me that the hon. Gentleman is not suggesting that I am misleading the housewife but rather that the Retail Consortium is doing so. If that is what he is suggesting we will look at it carefully. I must rebut the suggestion, however. The evidence is quite the other way.