HC Deb 17 April 1967 vol 745 cc30-1W
Mr. Whitaker

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why an Order has been made in the case of only one of the 200 price increases unjustified since July, 1966, compared to the more rigorous application of orders to incomes.

Mr. Frederick Lee

The Government have used their powers under Part IV of the Prices and Incomes Act without any differentiation between prices and incomes. Orders have been made only in cases where those concerned have failed to comply with the criteria for prices and incomes behaviour. My hon. Friend in referring to the figure of 200 cases, as mentioned in my reply to him on 10th April, may be taking this to relate to price increases which had occurred in breach of the policy, but it related to proposed increases which did not take place because the proposals did not satisfy the criteria of the standstill and severe restraint.—[Vol. 744, c. 139–40.]