HC Deb 19 March 1973 vol 853 cc9-10W
Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the number of persons employed in his Department who are engaged in investigations of price increases which are said to be due to the imposition of VAT.

Mr. Emery

Complaints about price increases in anticipation of the entry into force of VAT are, like other complaints about price increases during the standstill, primarily a matter for the Prices Unit, which has a strength of about 50.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the number of cases of price increases considered or under consideration in his Department which are said to be due wholly or in part to the imposition of VAT.

Mr. Emery

Any such complaints are dealt with under the arrangements which have applied throughout the standstill, and it is not possible to isolate the number of complaints which have referred to anticipation of VAT.