HC Deb 15 November 1976 vol 919 cc928-9
28. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what steps he is taking to keep down the price of consumer goods.

Mr. Hattersley

Within the severe constraints imposed by the public sector borrowing requirement, the need to safeguard jobs and to promote investment and the pressure of increasing import costs, consumer prices are being contained when that is possible. The Price Commission saved consumers £138 million as a result of modifications, rejections and withdrawals of proposed price increases during the period 1st June to 31st August 1976.

Mr. Marten

On the question of the price of food, may I refer to the answer that the Minister gave to my previous supplementary question and confirm that what he really means is that there will be no change in Government policy towards the green pound until there has been a substantial change in the CAP?

Mr. Hattersley

From long experience, I normally prefer to give my answers in my words rather than the hon. Gentleman's. However, by and large his description of our policy is right. Clearly, from the United Kingdom consumer's point of view there are benefits to be gained from the green pound remaining at its present level. We could not possibly contemplate a change in that unless other aspects of the CAP were changed in such a way that equal benefits flowed to the British consumer.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

If it is possible for the right hon. Gentleman to estimate to within £1 million of the £138 million that has been saved by the Price Commission, is it equally possible for him to tell us what the cost of the Government has been on consumer prices overall during the past two and a half years?

Mr. Hattersley

I do not believe that the hon. Gentleman regards that as a serious question. He has made his point, but the important point is made not by him or by me but by the Price Commission. If the hon. Gentleman looks at its reports and adds up the amounts of saving, he will discover that the existence of the Commission, and the application of its policies, has saved the British consumer a great amount of money over the past two and a half years.