HL Deb 08 February 1968 vol 288 cc1269-70

3.8 p.m.

LORD CROOK

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that:

  1. (a) Ever Ready RM675 GH mercury cell hearing batteries have been advanced in price from 1s. 10d. to 2s. 9d.,
  2. (b) some hearing aids require the use of as many as five of these in two weeks,
  3. (c) another widely used battery has been increased in price from 2s. 4d. to 4s. 2d.,
whether they do not consider these increases extortionate, and whether in the circumstances they will refer the question of these increases to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)

My Lords, as was announced on Monday, the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and the Minister of Technology have referred the question of these price increases to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for examination.

LORD CROOK

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for the announcement which he has made after the Question was put down, may I now ask him whether a second announcement can be expected from the Government, that they will pin the present prices where they are until the inquiry is over?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, the question of the use of the powers, not to prevent increases but to cause to revert prices which have risen, pending an examination by the National Board for Prices and Incomes, is a difficult one. The relevant Ministers do not consider it appropriate to use the powers in this case. They regard these powers as something which should be kept for extremely flagrant cases. They doubt whether this is one, because the price of the batteries in question has not risen for eight years past; because there is no patent in respect of that type of battery, so that anybody could copy it and make it at a lower price if he wanted to; and, above all, because this type of battery is net used in National Health Service hearing aids.

LORD PARGITER

My Lords, would not my noble friend agree that it is desirable to have the same policy for both wages and prices?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, as a general proposition the Government naturally have the greatest possible sympathy with what has just been said; but in particular cases one must take account of particular factors.

LORD CROOK

My Lords, would the noble Lord tell me, if he can, why it is that had this been an increase in wages for the deaf the Government would probably have had no difficulty in withholding every single penny of it?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I am not at all sure that that would be true, after eight years.