Shops (Price Control)

8.

Mr. Ridley
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will take steps to exempt all shops with a turnover of £25,000 or less from price control, in order to prevent widespread impending closures with consequent damage to the interests of consumers.

Mr. Maclennan
If the hon. Member has evidence of closures of small shops directly attributable to the operation of price control I shall be glad to consider it. The 10 per cent. cut in gross percentage margins does not, of course, apply to them.