§ LORD ERROLL OF HALEMy 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 how many reports of the National Board for Prices and Incomes have been made to them; how many of such reports recommended a lowering of prices; how many of such recommendations for lower prices have been implemented; how many of these recommendations for price reductions applied to the nationalised industries and what action has been taken by the nationalised industries concerned.]
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, the National Board for Prices and Incomes has made 76 reports (including two general reports). Of these 40 related to prices and charges and in two of these price reductions were recommended. In one of these two cases a reduction in soap prices was made and in the other, Mallory mercury hearing-aid batteries, discussions are still taking place.
In 14 other cases, the Board's reports recommended that price increases be deferred or modified, and I am glad to say that action has been taken as recommended by the Board. The goods and services concerned in these reports included gas, the bulk supply of electricity and rail fares.
§ LORD ERROLL OF HALEMy Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord for that full and comprehensive Answer, as a result of which I have no supplementary question to put.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, it will take me some time to recover from that.