§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give an assurance that it is a standing instruction to all Price Commission staff that, when writing to or telephoning a retailer about a specific price increase complained about by a member of the public, the official states that (a) it is not illegal to raise a price, (b) only a very limited number of companies require to seek permission in advance for price increases, and (c) that the Commission has no power to require specific deductions without proper investigation of reference levels, service of notices and making of orders and that the official in no circumstances states or implies that the commission wishes a specific price to be lower without the proper procedures having been used first.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe Price Commission is responsible for deciding what intructions to give its staff.