§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection by what criteria or authority the Price Commission acts to enforce on companies the requirement under the Price Code to reduce or increase prices, if raw materials costs fall or rise.
§ Mr. MaclennanUnder Section 6 of the Counter-Inflation Act 1973 the Price Commission has a duty to enforce the provisions of the Price Code. It has power to issue orders or notices restricting prices or charges in accordance with the code Any breach of such an order or notice would be a criminal offence. Raw material costs are only one of a number of the factors which determine permitted price levels under the Price Code. The Commission has no power to require prices to be increased.