HC Deb 06 March 1978 vol 945 cc448-9W
10. Mr. David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is his estimate of total consumer expenditure in 1977; and what percentage of the goods and services concerned were subject to price control by official bodies and to permitted resale price maintenance agreements, respectively.

Mr. Maclennan

Total consumers' expenditure in 1977 is estimated to be £35,147 million, at 1970 constant prices.

The Price Commission Act—1977—permits the Commission to investigate prices and margins over about three-quarters of this area, however it may also investigate margins of all distributors of goods in the United Kingdom. Other official bodies have a role in regulating prices and charges for about a quarter of the remaining area. Goods and services subject to permitted resale price maintenance agreements, namely, books and proprietary medicines, accounted for less than 1 per cent. of consumers' expenditure.