§ Mr. Geoffrey Lloydasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many members of the public have laid complaints of irregular rounding up of prices quoted in the decimal coinage; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what measures he proposes to introduce to investigate allegations of irregular rounding up of prices on the introduction of decimal coinage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RodgersAlthough some prices are now being quoted in both £ s. d. and decimal currency, only the former price has any status until 15th February 1971, and I am not aware of any complaints. The Government's policy towards the conversion of prices to decimal currency was explained in the White Paper "Decimal Currency: the Changeover" (Cmnd. 3889) published last January. The Government do not believe that the business community will try to take advantage of the situation. Where prices are the responsibility of the Government, it will be for the Department concerned to investigate any complaints.