§ 48. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of the State for Employment and Productivity what further measures she now proposes to take to enforce price stability on the products and services of the nationalised industries.
§ Mr. HattersleyI would refer the hon. Member to the statement of the Government's views on the pricing policy to be followed by the nationalised industries in paragraphs 17–26 of the White Paper on the Nationalised Industries: A Review of Economic and Financial Objectives (Cmnd. 3437). The action that is being taken to encourage efficiency and so to keep down costs is explained in paragraph 32.
49. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will set up a Committee to review the rising prices of the products of the nationalised industries.
§ Mr. HattersleyNo. Increases in prices charged by the public sector are subject to the same criteria as apply to the private sector. All major increases recently made or in prospect by the nationalised industries have been examined by the National Board for Prices and Incomes and the Board found these consistent with the policy for prices set out in Cmnd. 3590.