§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether his recent statement on inflation took account of the 6½ per cent. rise in the costs of raw materials during the past three months and the Government's own estimate of an annual rate of 28 per cent.; and what his estimate is of raw material price rises in the next six months.
§ Mr. MaclennanMy right hon. Friend took into account all available information. The cost of raw materials and fuel purchased by manufacturing industry is still l¾ per cent. below its level of a year earlier. I expect no major upturn in world prices of raw materials in the next six months.