§ 27. Mr. Carterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now been able to estimate what effect decimalisation will have on the Cost of Living Index.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanThere need be no overall increase in price levels due to decimalisation.
§ 59. Mr. Molloyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of his Administration in dealing with complaints arising from the changeover to decimal currency.
§ Mr. HigginsIt depends where responsibility lies for the matter complained about.
§ 71. Mr. Molloyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between Departments responsible for determining Government prices, charges, etc., following decimalisation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HigginsAll Departments are aware of the policy to be followed on price conversion.
§ Mr. Dykesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures showing the total costs, actual or estimated, involved in the changeover to decimal currency, including the net costs incurred by the central Government, 378W local authorities, private manufacturing industry, the rest of the private sector, and individuals, and the net percentages of all these elements within the latest estimates of the gross national product.
§ Mr. HigginsI regret that this information is not available. As the Halsbury Committee pointed out many costs are not measurable, and the expense of conducting a detailed but partial inquiry would not, in my view, be justified.