§ Mr. Forresterasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is aware that many people who have written and telephoned about the prices and incomes policy have been passed from Department to Department; if he will state the correct address to which such complaints should be sent; and if he is satisfied that the machinery for dealing with confusion and delay is adequate.
§ Mr. M. StewartI am not aware that there has been any general difficulty on this score where the advice which I gave in my statement to the Press on 12th September has been followed and I do not accept that there is confusion and delay. If, however, my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind I will be glad to look into it.
In my statement to the Press on 12th September I indicated that the first thing to do was to ask the supplier for an ex-explanation of a price increase. If a convincing reply was not forthcoming a short note of the facts could always be sent to the Ministry of Agriculture in the case of food and drinks of all kinds and to the Board of Trade for most other consumer goods and services. If it was another Department's concern, the latter would be passed on.
I hope, however, that the additional information given below about the Government Departments to which complaints may be sent will be of assistance to Members and to the public. Complaints should not be sent to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.
The following is the information:
All food and drink. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Whitehall Place, London, S.W.1.Building materials. Ministry of Public Building and Works, Lambeth Bridge House, London, S.E.1.374WCoal: coke: manufactured fuels: gas: electricity (England and Wales): petroleum products. Ministry of Power, Thames House South, Millbank, London, S.W.1.Electricity (Scotland). Scottish Development Department, St. Andrew's House, Edinburgh 1.Rail and bus services; road haulage and other transport services. Ministry of Transport, St. Christopher House, Southwark Street, London, S.E.1.Postal services and telecommunication services. Post Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand, London, E.C.1.Engineering products; motor cars; motor repairs and servicing; gas and electrical appliances; radio and televison sets and rentals. Ministry of Technology, Millbank Tower, London, S.W.1.All other consumer goods and services. Board of Trade, 1, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1.