§ 65. Mr. Rentonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that each nationalised industry has, in the past 12 months, increased the charges for its services on the ground, among others, that the costs of services provided for it by other nationalised industries have increased; and what steps he is taking to counteract the effect of those increased charges upon the cost of living.
§ Mr. GaitskellThere has been a general rise in industrial costs both in private and nationalised industry in the past 12 months mainly because of higher prices for imports and to a smaller extent because of higher wages. The steps taken by the Government to limit the effects of this through price control, fiscal and monetary policy, international action and the encouragement of greater efficiency in industry as a whole have been repeatedly explained in speeches and answers to previous Questions.