§ 2. Mr. Silvesterasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he has any further plans to extend the practice of unit pricing of consumer goods.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (Mr. Robert Maclennan)Present plans for unit pricing, that is, price per pound, are confined to coverage of foodstuffs which are generally weighed out in front of the customer or sold in random weight prepackages. This coverage will be completed by our programme for further orders on fish, processed meat products, poultry and pre-packed fruit and vegetables.
§ Mr. SilvesterNow that we have reached the point of compulsory unit pricing on some scale, what plans has the Minister for undertaking research among housewives to see how useful they find the existing arrangements before he seeks to extend them still further?
§ Mr. MaclennanAll the organisations representing consumers—the National Federation of Consumer Groups, the Consumers Association and the National Consumer Council—have expressed strong support for the Government's programme on unit pricing. There is no evidence that consumers do not welcome it, or that they do not welcome the approach that we have made to consult them fully as we go along.