§ 10. Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is his estimate of total consumer expenditure in 1977; and what percentage of the goods and services concerned were subject to price control by official bodies and to permitted resale price maintenance agreements, respectively.
§ Mr. MaclennanTotal consumers' expenditure in 1977 is estimated to be £35,147 million, at 1970 constant prices.
The Price Commission Act—1977—permits the Commission to investigate prices and margins over about three-quarters of this area, however it may 449W also investigate margins of all distributors of goods in the United Kingdom. Other official bodies have a role in regulating prices and charges for about a quarter of the remaining area. Goods and services subject to permitted resale price maintenance agreements, namely, books and proprietary medicines, accounted for less than 1 per cent. of consumers' expenditure.