Clause 7. — (Notice of Intention to Increase Prices or Charges.)

Part of Orders of the Day — Prices and Incomes Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 9 August 1966.

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Photo of Mr William Rodgers Mr William Rodgers , Stockton-on-Tees 12:00, 9 August 1966

I have been very interested in what the hon. Gentleman has said. May I make it clear that we deplore any increase in prices and charges of any kind which is not covered by the tightly-drawn qualifications in paragraph 4 of the White Paper. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we make it clear that whereas we expect all those involved generally to absorb additional costs, as far as possible, we recognise that there will be some additional costs, due to action by the Government, such as increased taxation, which it will not be possible to absorb altogther. Insofar as any increase in charges proposed by Pembroke and other colleges is due to increases in rates we would regard that as coming within paragraph 4 of the White Paper.

Having said that, I hope that all bodies, including universities and colleges, will scrutinise increases that they have in mind in the light of the policy as it now stands. We are working in a voluntary period, and we hope that those who carry responsibilities in other directions will show a proper responsibility here, to act in the spirit of the White Paper and of the legislation that we have before us.