§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what action he now intends to take to protect consumers from the effects of continually rising prices.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe White Paper on the Prices and Incomes Standstill (Cmnd. 3073) set out the strictly limited criteria for possible increases in prices and 221W the arrangements for notification of proposed increases. The Government are keeping a rigorous scrutiny on prices and charges and have available the statutory powers under Part IV of the Prices and Incomes Act which was brought into force on 6th October.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of items, goods and services which have risen in price since 20th July, 1966, the amounts of such increases and the reasons in each instance for these price increases.
§ Mr. William RodgersThere have been price increases for a number of goods and services since 20th July which reflect principally the increases in Purchase Tax and the introduction of the Selective Employment Tax. The general movement of retail prices as recorded in the Monthly Index was 117.1 on 20th October compared with 116.6 at mid-July and 117.3 at mid-August.