§ Mr Doigasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the consumption of alcoholic drink in Great Britain from 1968 to the nearest convenient date divided into mature British spirit and Scotch whisky and Irish whiskey, other spirit, British wines, imported wines, and beer.
§ Mr. HigginsThe net quantities on which duty has been paid are as follows:
reached by the Licensed Non-Residential Wages Council; and what steps he is taking to speed up the process.
(2) how long printed notices of agreements reached by the Licensed Non-Residential Wages Council take to be printed; and what steps he is taking to speed up the process.
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§ Mr. BryanThe average time taken to print the wages regulation proposals made by this Council and to distribute them as required by the Act to employers so that all persons affected may have an opportunity to make representations about them is six weeks. The longer period of nine weeks for the current proposals was mainly due to the exceptional difficulties caused by the postal strike.
Every effort will continue to be made to minimise delays caused by the operation of the statutory procedures in wages council industries.
§ 55. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider making agreements reached by the Licensed Non-Residential Wages Council retrospective when their operational date has been held up through delay in printing the agreements and circulating them to the employers concerned.
§ Mr. BryanMy right hon. Friend has no power to give retrospective effect to wages regulation proposals.