HC Deb 11 November 1974 vol 881 cc1-3
1. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will make a statement on her future policy in respect to proposed alterations in the operation of the Price Code.

16. Mr. Channon

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what proposals she has for amending the Price Code.

21. Mr. Silvester

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when she expects to publish proposals for the amendment of the Price Code.

The Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (Mrs. Shirley Williams)

A consultative document will be presented to Parliament tomorrow setting out the Government's proposals for amending the Price Code.

Mr. Hamilton

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that that document takes account of the fact that in the April 1973 new earnings survey one-fifth of working men and two out of every three women were shown to be earning less than £25 a week, and that any price increases at all will affect this section of the community particularly adversely?

Mrs. Williams

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the various statements tomorrow which will, of course, have a bearing on the whole of the economy and on the matter which he has mentioned.

Mr. Silvester

While I recognise that the right hon. Lady cannot tell me what will be in her statement tomorrow, can she say whether she has accepted the principle that more damage will be done to consumers by the continued erosion of the margins of some food manufacturers, or will she accept some increase in the retail price?

Mrs. Williams

The hon. Gentleman will not seriously expect me to go into details of what will be said tomorrow.

Mr. Raison

While accepting the urgent need for revision of the Price Code, may I ask the Secretary of Stale to give an assurance that the House will have a proper chance to debate it in its draft form?

Mrs. Williams

I congratulate the hon. hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison) on his first appearance, I think, in this rôle at the Box. I hope that he enjoys it. In reply to his question, there will be a full opportunity on two occasions to debate the revision of the Price Code—first in conjunction with the general Budget debate which has been agreed through the usual channels. Secondly any revisions to the Price Code are subject to an affirmative procedure and, therefore, the House will have a further opportunity to consider them in detail.

Mr. Raison

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that reply, but surely the House needs a full, separate debate on the Price Code as well as the two opportunities which the right hon. Lady has described.

Mrs. Williams

I do not think that the hon. Gentleman fully appreciated what I said. That would, of course, take place on the affirmative order. If he wishes in addition to have a further debate on the matter—that is to say, a third one in a very short space of time—the hon. Member must consult his right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition.

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