§ Mr. John Leeasked the President of the Board of Trade how many representations he has received since the Prices and Incomes Act, 1966 came into force regarding price increases; in how many cases has advice been given by his Department to companies and firms regarding such representations; and in how many instances prices have been reduced voluntarily.
§ Mr. JaySome 4,500 since the Act came into force on 12th August, 1966. This figure includes representations of a general nature, and many of the specific cases duplicated one another or referred to increases made before the standstill. Firms were approached whenever it appeared that unjustified price increases might have taken place, and we know of 21 cases in which this action resulted in the withdrawal of price increases.