§ 42. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, transport contractors, and local authorities will be allowed to pass on to the general public the 8 per cent. to 15 per cent. increase in electricity charges agreed to by the Government; and whether wage earners will be entitled to claim this as a reason for wage increases without their claims being referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.
§ Mr. Frederick LeeYes, provided this can be justified against the relevant criteria for price increases. The need to increase prices will depend on how significant an element electricity is in the total costs of the individual enterprise and on246W the ability of the enterprise to absorb increases in costs through greater efficiency.
As to the second part of the Question, neither general nor specific increases in the cost of living are among the criteria for incomes increases set out in Cmnd. 3235.