§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what way he relates the introduction of selective import controls with a rise in the retail price index.
§ Mr. Joel Barnett, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15 March 1979; Vol. 964, c. 277], gave the following information:
I would expect selective import controls to increase the price of the goods to which they apply. Whether they would have a significant effect on the RPI would depend on the range of goods covered and the severity of the controls.