§ Mr. Haseldineasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he proposes to take to prevent price increases beyond the one per cent. forecast as a result of the Selective Employment Tax.
§ Mr. William RodgersMy right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has indicated that he would expect the increase in the cost of living to be well under 1 per cent. even if all changes in costs resulting from the tax were passed on.
It is up to traders to make genuine efforts to absorb the tax, like any other increase in costs, through greater efficiency. Where increases in charges for services appear to have been made unnecessarily, it is open to the Government to ask the National Board for Prices and Incomes to investigate.
§ Mr. Haseldineasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what representations he has received from regional economic development councils, or from other organisations in Northern Ireland, regarding the effects of the Selective Employment Tax on balanced regional development.
§ Mr. William RodgersWe have received no representations from Northern Ireland.