§ Mr. Skeetasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, on the basis of present 14W information will be the rise in the cost element of the items measured in the retail price index in 1974.
§ Mr. DellIt is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to publish forecasts of prices and costs. Nevertheless the Government are keenly aware of the dangers of continuing severe inflationary pressures on costs and final prices in the period ahead. The Government are taking immediate steps to halt increases in rents due in 1974, and are preparing urgent measures to establish fair prices for certain key foods, with the use of subsidies where appropriate, and to restrain price inflation generally.