§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many contracts have now been placed by
26Wparative price information is readily available to the shopper, we have increased the maximum grant for each survey from £1,200 to £1,300 per annum to enable participants to improve and extend publicity and dissemination of the results. Local authorities and other participants have been notified of these arrangements.
Although the Government have succeeded in reducing inflation to single figures, there is still considerable variation in shop prices. Shoppers need to be able to compare prices readily. This is essential if competition is to work properly and if they are to be able to turn existing price variations to their advantage. Experience has shown that significant savings can be effected by using the price survey results. At the present time about 230 local price surveys offer a useful service, by showing each week a number of basic grocery and fresh food prices in the main shops of an area.
I hope that, through continued cooperation of those running the surveys and the media, more people will in future be able to take advantage of this service.