§ Miss Boothroydasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of those associations forming the retail trade and the food industry with which she has had consultations, and the dates on which the consultations were held.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsI have had consultations on the proposed changes to the price controls with the following bodies representing the retail trade and the food industry:
Retail Consortium, 5th and 24th April 1974. Food and Drink Industries Council, 8th April 1974.
CBI, 9th and 24th April 1974.
I have also had consultations both formally and informally with:
- The Price Commission, 4th April 1974.
- Consumers Association, 4th April 1974.
- National Federation of Consumer Organisations, 4th April 1974.
- Housewife's Trust, 4th April 1974.
In addition, my officials have had consultations with a wide range of bodies which have included the TUC, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Wholesale Organisations, the Motor Agents Association, the British Hotels, Restaurants and Caterers Association, and trade associations representing food wholesalers and retailers. Officials in other Whitehall Departments have held similar consultative meetings, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has seen more than 70 associations representing the interests of food manufacturers and distributors.