§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection to what extent he estimates the 2 per cent. increase in prices as detailed in his written reply of 11th January 1978 was due to the imposition of the 10 per cent. guideline by the Government on private and public wage settlements.
§ Mr. MaclennanIn broad terms, it takes between a year and 18 months for the effects of an increase in average earnings to work through into retail prices. Thus, the small number of pay settlements which were made in the opening four months of the current pay round would have had a negligible direct effect on the Retail Price Index by November 1977. The 2 per cent. increase in the RPI between July and November 1977 is encouraging confirmation that
Grants made 1977–78 (£) Location Staff* Hours of opening per week DPCP Local Authority Blyth Valley … … … 2 15 2,050 1,250 Tynedale … … … … 1 10 650 1,800 Wansbeck … … … … 2 16 2,000 2,000 Total 4,700 5,050 * All part-time volunteers.