Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will make a statement about the results of the Price Commission's monitoring of the Price Check Scheme.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe Price Commission's latest report covering the retail prices of items in the Scheme in June shows that of 47 groups of products in the scheme the prices of 15 had remained static within half of 1 per cent., 16 had increased by less than 2 per cent., and six had gone up by more than 2 per cent. but less than 5 per cent. allowing for rounding. The prices of 10 groups of products had fallen.
The scheme has substantially succeeded in its aims and I should like to express my gratitude to all those who have taken part in it: the trade associations who recommened the scheme to their members or constituents, the manufacturers and providers of services who agreed to hold their prices, and the wholesalers and many thousands of retailers, both large and small, who have ensured that price restraint by manufacturers is passed on to the shopping public.