§ Mr. Neubertasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the cost of the continuing reference of fresh foods to the Price Commission; how many people are involved in the work; what benefits are obtained; and whether she has plans to discontinue the surveys.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe cost of the reference and the number of staff engaged on it at any given time fluctuate according to the number of character of individual assignments given to the Commission under the reference. It is estimated that the cost of the reference from September 1973 to the end of March 1976 will have been of the order of £14,000 per month. 45 staff are currently engaged on the reference, but in most cases it represents only part of their responsibilities.
The data obtained through the collection and analysis of prices are helping to build up information about price movements for fresh foods and comparison of prices between different types of shops and different areas. This enables in depth studies of particular problems, such as the cost of distribution of meat and potatoes, to be effectively conducted.
I have no plans to discontinue the surveys.